Davao Region has one developmental pediatrician per 7,532 learners, EDCOM 2 says
The region also logged the most enrolled learners with disabilities in the country, but fewer than a third have a formal diagnosis, according to congressional commission data.
Davao Region has only one developmental pediatrician for every 7,532 learners, a ratio worse than the national figure of 1:4,808, according to data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reported by Mindanao Times.
The regional ratio is about 57 percent higher than the national figure and roughly 12 times that of the National Capital Region (NCR), which posted the best ratio at 1:627. EDCOM 2 based its figures on the official directory of the Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (PSDBP) and the Department of Education's Learner Information System special education database for School Year 2025–2026. Doctors were counted in every region where they hold a clinic.
Nationwide, the commission said only 109 certified developmental pediatricians serve an estimated five million learners with disabilities. These specialists diagnose and manage conditions such as autism, ADHD and developmental delays, and their assessments often determine whether a child can enter special education services.
Mindanao has the weakest ratio among the island groups at 1:11,127, compared with 1:8,718 in the Visayas and 1:3,096 in Luzon. Mindanao also holds just 9 percent of the 156 clinic listings in the PSDBP directory. Within the island group, Davao Region ranks second behind Northern Mindanao (1:4,744). SOCCSKSARGEN stood at 1:24,728 and Zamboanga Peninsula at 1:17,489, while Caraga and BARMM have no developmental pediatrician at all.
EDCOM 2 also found that Davao Region recorded the highest number of enrolled public-school learners with disabilities in the country at 60,257, but only 29 percent had formal diagnoses. Nationally, of 492,902 such learners, only 36.6 percent had formal diagnoses, with the rest recorded based on observed manifestations of disability.
Training is concentrated in the capital area. Only five institutions offer fellowship training in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, all in Metro Manila except De La Salle University Medical Center in Cavite.
EDCOM 2 executive director Karol Mark Yee said closing the gaps requires closer coordination among the DOH, CHED, DepEd, PhilHealth and local government units. He also called for scholarships, training opportunities and partnerships with local colleges in underserved regions. "Our goal is to ensure that children can access the assessment and support they need, regardless of where they live," Yee said.
Why it matters for Davao
Families in Davao City and the wider region may face long waits for the formal diagnoses that often determine access to special education services. With the country's largest count of enrolled learners with disabilities, the shortage affects many local households and schools.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Mindanao Times. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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