EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
hi iijc
SENATE 
S. No. ^508
REC
20 MAY f4 P5 20
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VISION CARE TO 
CHILDREN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the 2018 Philippine National Blindness Survey and Eye Disease 
Study conducted by the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) of the National 
Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines - Manila, four (4) pupils in 
every class of forty (4) have vision problems. Three (3) of them are caused by error 
of refraction or myopia (nearsightedness) while one (1) may have amblyopia or lazy 
eye. Amblyopia has a prevalence rate of two to five percent among children, making 
it one of the causes of visual impairment and preventable blindness.
Visual impairment is one of the ten (10) most common causes of disability in 
the country. This is attributable to the fact that eighty percent (80%) of what children 
learn is acquired through the visual processing of information.
In children, visual impairment is associated with developmental delays and the 
need for special education, vocational, and social services. At least twenty percent 
(20%) of children with learning disabilities have been found to have prominent visual 
information processing problems.


This bill aims to provide comprehensive eye examinations for children identified 
or considered at high risk of vision impairment.
This measure was filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago in the 16th 
Congress but remained pending in the Committee on Health and Demography.
In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended.
RAMOI^BONG REVILLA, 3R.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of iijt
SENATE
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VISION CARE TO 
CHILDREN
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the " Vision Care for Kids
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Act Of2020'.
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Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - The following terms as used in this Act shali be
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defined as follows:
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(1) "Comprehensive Eye Examinatiorf includes an assessment of a patient's
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history, general medical observation, external and ophthalmoscopic
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examination, visual acuity, ocular alignment and motility, refraction, and
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as appropriate, binocular vision or gross visual fields, performed by an
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optometrist or an ophthalmologist;
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(2)"Secretary refers to the Secretary of Health.
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Sec. 3. Grant regarding vision care for children. -
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(a) In general - The Secretary, may award grants to local government units
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(LGUs) on the basis of an established review process for the purpose of
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complementing existing government efforts for:
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(1) providing comprehensive eye examinations by a licensed
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optometrist or ophthalmologist for children who have been
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previously identified through a vision screening or eye


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examination by a licensed health care provider or vision screener 
as needing such services, with priority given to children who are 
under nine (9) years old;
(2) providing treatment or services, subsequent to the examinations 
described in paragraph (1), necessary to correct vision problems; 
and,
(3) developing and disseminating, to parents, teachers, and health 
care practitioners, educational materials on recognizing signs of 
visual impairment in children.
(b) Criteria and coordination - The Secretary, in consultation with 
appropriate professional and consumer organizations including 
individuals with knowledge of age appropriate vision services, shall 
develop criteria governing the operation of the grant program under 
subsection (a), and for the collection of data related to vision assessment 
and the utilization of follow up services
(c) Application - to be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an 
LGU shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, made in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, including the following;
(1) information on existing government-funded children vision 
programs;
(2) a plan for the use of grant funds, including how funds will be used 
to complement existing State efforts (including possible 
partnerships with non-profit entities);
(3) a plan to determine if a grant eligible child has been identified as 
provided for in Section 3(a); and,
(4) a description of how funds will be used to provide items or 
services only as a secondary payer to any local government 
compensation program, under an insurance policy, or under any 
government health benefits program, or by any entity that 
provides health services on a prepaid basis.


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(d) Evaluations - To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an
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LGU shall agree that, no later than one (1) year after the date on which
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amounts under the grant are first received by it, and annually thereafter
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while receiving amounts under the grant, the LGU will submit to the
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Secretary an evaluation of the operations and activities carried out under
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the grant, including -
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(1) an assessment of the utilization of vision services and the status
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of children receiving these services as a result of the activities
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carried out under the grant;
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(2) the collection, analysis, and reporting of children's vision data
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according to guidelines prescribed by the Seaetary; and,
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(3) such other information as the Secretary may require.
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(e) Limitations in Expenditure of Grant - A grant may be made under
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subsection (a) only if the LGU involved agrees that it will not expend
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more than twenty percent (20%) of the amount received under the grant
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to carry out the purpose described in paragraph (3) of such subsection.
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Sec. 4. Appropriations. - Such sums as may be necessary for the initial
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implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current appropriations of the
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Department of Health (DOH). Thereafter, the fund necessary to carry out the
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provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 5. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 6. Repeaiing Ciause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the OfEciai Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,