Philippines: shortage in occupational and speech therapists
The Philippines’ Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) is calling for expanded education and training opportunities and improved compensation to address shortages of occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, particularly in public hospitals and services supporting learners with disabilities. Department of Health data from September 2026 show that 66% of authorized occupational therapist positions and 79% of speech therapist positions in government hospitals were vacant. The shortage is compounded by the limited number of training programs outside Metro Manila and the uneven availability of PhilHealth-contracted facilities, with 14 of the country’s 18 regions lacking contracted facilities offering occupational and speech therapy services. EDCOM 2 is recommending a review of government salary classifications to bring starting compensation for these professionals closer to market rates, as well as greater investment in training faculty and expanding higher education programs in the Visayas and Mindanao. The Commission is working with the Commission on Higher Education, the Professional Regulation Commission and the Department of Health to develop initiatives addressing these workforce gaps. The shortages have implications for implementation of the Inclusive Education Act, which calls for multidisciplinary teams to provide assessments, referrals and therapeutic services for learners with disabilities.