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Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION No. 472

DECLARING THE THIRD WEEK OF OCTOBER OF EVERY YEAR AS “NATIONAL ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (AD/HD) AWARENESS WEEK

WHEREAS, AD/HD is a common serious neuro-biological disorder in every country affecting some three (3%) percent to four (4%) percent of the country’s population;

WHEREAS, AD/HD is a chronic brain disorder with social, academic and emotional impacts which can affect an estimated four (4) million Filipinos nationwide;

WHEREAS, lack of understanding and awareness about AD/HD leads to misconceptions and social stigma which hinder access to effective treatment, increases the risk of co-morbid conditions and complications such as conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and anti-social disorder;

WHEREAS, the unmitigated condition of ADIHD may lead to the increased incidence of out-of-school youths and child abuse and neglect;

WHEREAS, several studies have shown that as high as seventy (70%) percent of juvenile offenders and forty (40%) percent of adult prisoners were found to have AD/HD;

WHEREAS, most persons with AD/HD have above-average intelligence, are highly creative, have deep stores of energy, have the ability to.do multi-tasking, and thus, have the potential to become path-beaters;

WHEREAS, the AD/HD individual, with proper management and support, can lead productive and fruitful lives and contribute to the nation’s moral, financial and spiritual recovery.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the third week of October of every year as “National Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) Week” under the auspices of the AD/HD Society of the Philippines, Inc.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 18th day of September, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Three.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary