THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XV, Section 3, paragraph 2 provides that the State shall defend: 
“The right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, 
and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and 
other conditions prejudicial to their development.” 
Good vision is essential for proper physical development and educational progress i n  
growing children. Many scrious ocular conditions arc treatable if identified i n  thc preschool and 
early school-aged years. Early detection of ocular conditions provides the best opportunity for 
cffectivc, iiiexpensivc treatment and can have far-reaching implications for \ision. 
Various identification methods, whether vision screcning or coniprehcnsivc eye cxanis 
required by law, will identiry children needing services. A child idelltilied through vision 
screcning should rcceivc a coinprehcnsive cyc exam followed by subsequent trcatmciit as 
needed. A child identilied through a comprehensive eye exam should receive subsequent 
trcatmcnt as needed. All children identified as needing serviccs should have access to subscqucnt 
treatment as needed. 
This bill scclts to establish a grant program to provide vision care to children. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VISION CARE TO CHILDREN. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Vision Care for Kids Act of 
2007”’. 
SECTION 2. Definition of Term. - The following terms as used in this Act shall be 
defined as follows: 
(1) “Comprehensive Eye Examination” includes an assessment of a patient’s history, 
general medical observation, external and ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity, ocular 
alignment and motility, refraction, and as appropriate, binocular vision or gross visual fields, 
performed by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist; 
(2) “LGU” refers to a local government unit, which maybe a province, city or 
municipality; 
(3) “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Health. 
SECTION 3. (;rani rejpding vision care jt)r children. - 
(a) In General - The Secretary, may award grants to LGUs on the basis of an established 
review process for the purposc of complementing existing government eflorts lor: 
(1) providing comprehensive eye examinations by a licensed optometrist or 
ophlhalmologist for children who have been previously identified through a vision 
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screening or eye examination by a licensed hcalth care providcr or vision 
nceding such scrvices, with priority given to children who arc under 9 years old; 
(2) providing treatment or services, subsequent to thc examinations de. 
paragraph (l), necessary to correct vision problems; and 
(3) developing and disseminating, to parents, teachers, and health care 
practitioners, educational materials on recognizing signs of visual inipairrnent in children. 
(b) Criteria inid Coordination - The Sccrelary, in consultation with appropriate 
professional and consunicr organizations including individuals with linowlcdgc of agc 
rtppropriate vision services, shall develop criteria governing the operation of the grant program 
under subsection (a), and for the collection of data related to vision asscssincnt and the utilization 
oflbllow up services. 
(e) Application- To bc eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an LGII shall 
submit to the Secretary an application in such form, made in such niainer, and containing such 
information as the Sccretary may require, including the following: 
(1) infiinnation on existing Federal, Federal-State: or State-fiindcd children vision 
programs; 
(2) a plan for the use of grant funds, including bow funds will be used to 
cornplemcnt existing Statc efforts (including possiblc partnerships with non-profit 
entities); 
( 3 )  a plan to determine if a grant eligible child has bccn identified as provided for 
in Section 3(a); and 
(4) a dcscription of how funds will be uscd to providc items or serviccs only as a 
secondary payer to any local governinent compensation program, under an insurance 
policy, or under any govcrnincnt health bcncfits program; or by any entity that provides 
health services on a prepaid basis. 
(d) Ilvaluations- '1'0 be cligiblc to rcccivc a grant under subsection (a). an I,Gb sl~all 
agree that, not later than one (1) year after the date on which itmounts under the grant are lirst 
rcccivcd by it, and annually thereafter while receiving mounts under thc grant, the LGIJ will 
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submit to thc Secrekary an evaluation of the operations and activities carried U U I  under the grant, 
including- 
(1) an assessment of the utilization of vision services and thc status of children 
receiving thcsc services as a result of the acthitics carrrrjcd out undcr the grant: 
(2) the collection, analysis, and reporting of children’s vision data according to 
guidelines prescribed by the Secretary; and 
(3) such other information as the Secretary may require. 
(c) Limitations in Fxpenditure of Grant - A  grant may bc madc under subscction (a) only 
it the LGIJ involved agrees that it will not expend more than 20 percent (20%) of the amount 
received under thc grant to carry out thc purpose described in paragraph (3) or such subscction. 
SECTION 4. Appropriations. - Such sums as may be necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current appropriations of the Department of 
Health (DOH). Thereafter, the fund necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
fldpl516JO7 
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