Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PROGRAM 
FOR THE PREVENTION, EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTION OF HEARING 
LOSS AMONG CHILDREN  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State's policy is centered on safeguarding and advancing the people's right to good 
health, particularly focusing on ensuring the well-being of children, allowing them to 
thrive, develop fully, and enjoy a higher quality of life. To achieve this, the prevention, 
early identification, and diagnosis of congenital hearing impairments should rely on 
practical research and an understanding that infants and children with hearing 
difficulties possess distinct language, learning, and communication requirements. This 
process should involve consultation with relevant stakeholders. 
The primary objective of this legislation is to establish a Universal Newborn Hearing 
Screening Program (UNHSP). This program aims to formalize actions that prevent and 
promptly detect congenital hearing loss in newborns, while also providing referrals, 
early intervention, counseling, and additional support services to newborns with 
hearing impairments and their families. The ultimate goal is to offer these children all 
the opportunities they need to become productive members of their community. 
UNHSP underscores the commitment of the State to inclusivity and equal opportunities 
for all its citizens, irrespective of their hearing abilities. By implementing this program, 
the government recognizes that early intervention and support for newborns with 
hearing loss are pivotal in leveling the playing field and ensuring that every child has 
the chance to reach their full potential. This not only benefits the individual and their 
family but also contributes to the broader societal goal of fostering diversity, inclusion, 
and a rich tapestry of talents and abilities. The UNHSP serves as a cornerstone in 
building a society where all members have an equal opportunity to participate actively 
and contribute to its growth and development. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 11, 2023
1:25 pm
9112


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PROGRAM FOR 
THE PREVENTION, EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTION OF HEARING LOSS 
AMONG 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 "Universal Newborn Hearing 
Screening and Intervention Act".  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right 
to health of the people, including the rights of children to survival, full and healthy development 
as individuals, and a better quality of life. The prevention, early detection and diagnosis of 
congenital hearing loss and interventions thereto should be based on applied research and 
the recognition that newborns and children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing have unique 
language, learning and communication needs, and should be the result of consultation with 
the sectors concerned.  
SEC. 3. Purpose. -The purpose of this Act is to establish a Universal Newborn Hearing 
Screening Program (UNHSP) to institutionalize measures for the prevention and early 
diagnosis of congenital hearing loss among newborns and the provision of referral, early 
intervention, counseling and other support services for newborns with hearing loss, and their 
families, to afford them all the opportunities to be productive members of the community. The 
objectives of the UNHSP are:  
a. To ensure that all newborns have access to hearing loss screening;
b. To institute a system of newborn hearing loss screening, follow-up, referral and recall for
purpose of providing access to information and services on prevention of hearing loss, early
diagnosis and intervention, including consultations, to newborns and their families;
c. To establish a network among pertinent government and private sector stakeholders for the
implementation, monitoring, evaluation and policy development to further universal newborn
hearing screening program in the country;
d. To provide continuing capacity building of stakeholders including training to practitioners,
conduct of applied research, and other such activities to aid in the effective implementation of
a 
universal 
newborn 
hearing 
screening 
program; 
and
e. To establish and maintain a newborn hearing screening database.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. -Under this Act, the following terms shall mean the following: 
9112


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a. ”Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program” or “UNHSP” shall refer to the program 
developed for carrying out hearing screening for all babies born in the Philippines  
and for providing adequate interventions for babies with congenital hearing loss;  
b. “Congenital hearing loss” shall refer to hearing loss present at birth;  
c. ”Newborn hearing screening database” shall refer to an organized body of information 
related to newborn hearing screening;  
d. “Newborn” shall refer to a child from the time of complete delivery to thirty (30) days old;  
e. ”Follow-up” shall refer to the monitoring of a newborn with possible hearing loss for purpose 
of ensuring that the newborn patient receives additional diagnostic services and intervention 
or treatment;  
f. “Recall” shall refer to a procedure for locating a newborn with a possible hearing loss for 
purposes of providing diagnostic services to confirm hearing condition and, as appropriate, 
provide intervention or treatment;  
g. ”Newborn Screening Reference Center” shall refer to the central facility at the National 
Institutes of Health that defines testing and follow-up protocols, maintains an external 
laboratory proficiency testing program, oversees the national testing database and case 
registries, assists in training activities in all aspects of the program, oversees content of 
educational materials and acts as the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee on Universal 
Newborn Hearing Screening Program;  
h. “Newborn Hearing Screening Center” shall refer to a facility equipped with a newborn 
hearing loss screening and audiologic diagnostic evaluation laboratory that complies with the 
standards established by the NIH and provides all required laboratory tests and recall and 
follow-up programs for newborns with hearing loss;  
i. ”NIH’ shall refer to the, National Institutes of Health;  
j. “Health Institutions” shall refer to hospitals, health infirmaries, health centers, lying in centers 
or puericulture centers with obstetrical and pediatric services, whether public or private;  
k. ”Newborn hearing loss screening” shall refer to an objective, physiological procedure 
completed in a child thirty (30) days old or below to determine the likelihood of hearing loss;  
l. “Audiologic diagnostic evaluation” shall refer to a service related to diagnosis of hearing loss 
as provided by professionals or centers certified by the NIH, through the DOH;  
m. “Advisory Committee” shall refer to the Advisory Committee on Newborn Hearing 
Screening established under Section 11 of this Act;  
n. “DOH shall refer to the Department of Health;  
o. “Intervention” shall refer, to any act to render service for a child diagnosed with hearing loss 
ranging from counseling, diagnosis, hearing aid or any medical procedure for correction of 
hearing loss; and  
p. “Referral” shall refer to an act of sending a patient to another service provider within the 
network for continuation of care.  
 
SEC. 5. Obligation to Inform. -Any health practitioner who delivers, or assists in the delivery, 
of a newborn in the Philippines shall, prior to delivery, inform the parents or legal guardian of 
the newborn of the availability, nature and benefits of hearing loss screening among newborns 
or children three months old and below.  
 
Parents or legal guardians of newborns who, after undergoing newborn hearing loss 
screening, have been found to have congenital hearing loss shall be informed of the 
availability, nature and benefits of diagnostic audiologic evaluation, intervention and treatment 
options, and counseling regarding hearing loss.  
 
The DOH shall coordinate with the Advisory Committee to ensure the preparation and 
production of informational and educational materials for these purposes and ensure the 


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distribution of the same in coordination with public and private health facilities, hospitals and 
local government units.  
 
SEC. 6. Obligation to perform Newborn Hearing Loss Screening and Audiologic 
Diagnostic Evaluation. - Upon consent of parents or legal guardians, all babies born in 
hospitals in the Philippines shall be made to undergo newborn hearing loss screening before 
discharge, unless the parents or legal guardians of the newborn object to the screening 
subject to Section 7 of this Act. Babies who are not born in hospitals should he screened 
within the first three (3) months of life.  
 
In the event of a positive newborn hearing loss screening result, the newborn shall undergo 
audiologic diagnostic evaluation in a timely manner to allow appropriate follow-up, recall and 
referral for intervention before the age of six (6) months; Provided That, audiologic diagnostic 
evaluation shall be performed by Newborn Hearing Screening Centers duly certified by the 
NIH.  
 
It shall be the joint responsibility of the parents or legal guardian, and the practitioner or other 
person delivering the newborn to ensure that hearing screening is performed. An appropriate 
informational brochure for parents to assist in fulfilling this responsibility shall be made 
available by the DOIH, through the Advisory Committee, and shall be distributed to all health 
institutions and made available to any health practitioner requesting it for appropriate 
distribution.  
 
SEC. 7. Refusal to be Tested. -A parent or legal guardian may refuse hearing loss screening 
on the grounds of religious beliefs but shall acknowledge in writing that they have been 
informed of their responsibility to perform said screening and their understanding that refusal 
for testing places their newborn at risk for undiagnosed congenital hearing loss. A copy of this 
waiver shall be made part of the newborn’s medical record and refusal shall be indicated in 
the national newborn hearing screening database.  
 
SEC. 8. Continuing Education, Re-education and Training Health Personnel. - The DOI- 
I, with the assistance of the National Institute for Health and other concerned government 
agencies, professional associations and civil society organizations, shall:  
a. conduct continuing information, education, re-education and training programs for health 
personnel on the rationale, benefits, and procedures of hearing loss screening; and  
b. disseminate information materials on newborn screening at least annually to all health 
personnel involved in material and pediatric care.  
 
SEC. 9. Licensing. -To ensure the timely provision of hearing loss screening to newborns, 
the DOH shall require health institutions to provide hearing loss screening services as a 
condition for licensure. The Advisory Committee shall recommend to the DOH Secretary the 
acceptable standards and technologies of such services.  
 
SEC. 10. Lead Agency. - The DOH shall be the lead agency in implementing this Act. It shall 
coordinate with all stakeholders from every stage of human development and at all levels of 
society in order to achieve the objectives of this Act.  
For 
purposes 
of 
achieving 
the 
objectives 
of 
this 
Act, 
the 
DOH 
shall: 
1. Establish an Advisory Committee on Newborn Hearing Screening in the Department of 
Health; 
2. Coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the local 
government 
units 
for 
implementation 
of 
the 
provisions 
of 
this 
Act; 
and 


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3. Coordinate with the Advisory Committee and the NIIH Newborn Screening Reference 
Center for the certification of Newborn Hearing Screening Centers and preparation of defined 
testing protocols and quality assurance programs.  
 
SEC. 11. The Advisory Committee. - To ensure the effective implementation of this Act, the 
Advisory Committee on Newborn Hearing Screening is hereby created to facilitate inter- 
agency coordination and the cooperation of private sector and professional associations in 
policy development, technology development, enforcement monitoring, databanking and 
training. The Advisory Committee shall be made an integral part of the Office of the Secretary 
of the DOH. It shall be composed of the Secretary of the DOH as Chairperson; Director of the 
Philippine National Ear Institute as Vice-Chairperson and the following as members:  
a. Philippine Medical Association; 
b. Philippine Pediatric Society; 
c. Philippine Society of Otorhinolaryngologist - Head and Neck Surgery;  
d. Philippines Obstetrics Gynecologic Society; 
e. Philippine Hospitals Association; 
f. Department of Education; 
g. Department of Interior and Local Government; 
h. Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines; 
i. A duly organized association of audiologists in the Philippines; 
j. A duly organized association of midwives in the Philippines; and  
k. Two representatives from civil society organizations.  
 
SEC. 12. Responsibilities of the Advisory Committee. -The Advisory Committee shall 
provide technical assistance in the formulation of operational policies, plans and programs: 
a. To develop the State’s capacity to support newborn hearing loss screening, early diagnosis 
and intervention;  
b. To monitor the extent to which hearing loss screening and audiologic diagnostic evaluation 
are conducted in health institutions, and assist in the development of universal newborn 
hearing 
loss 
screening 
programs 
for 
hospitals 
and 
non-hospital 
sites; 
c. To collect data on early detection, diagnosis and intervention that can be used for applied 
research and policy development;  
d. To develop models which ensure effective screening, referral and linkage with appropriate 
diagnostic, medical and qualified early intervention services providers and programs within 
the 
community; 
and 
e. To periodically review and recommend the newborn hearing loss screening fees to be 
charged by Newborn Screening Centers and to review the report of the Newborn Screening 
Reference Center on the quality assurance of the hearing loss screening and recommend 
corrective measures as deemed necessary.  
 
SEC. 13. Establishment of Newborn Hearing Screening Center. –Newborn Hearing 
Screening Centers shall be established to provide newborn hearing loss screening, audiologic 
diagnostic evaluation and recall, follow-up and referral programs to babies with hearing loss; 
Provided, That, such centers shall be established through a certification by the NIH based on 
standards formulated in collaboration with the  
Advisory 
Committee 
and 
the 
DOH. 
Newborn Screening Centers (NSC) established pursuant to Section 12, of Republic  
Act No. 9288, shall adopt and implement a program to develop its capacity to become 
Newborn Hearing Screening Centers. The DOH and the Advisory Committee shall develop 
incentives to encourage the establishment of Newborn Hearing Screening Centers other than 
those under the Newborn Screening Centers.  


5 
 
SEC. 14. Data Management and Applied Research. - All hospitals and Newborn Screening 
Centers shall periodically submit copies of the, results of the screening tests to the NIH 
Newborn Screening Reference' Center for consolidation of patient databases. The NIH 
Newborn Screening Reference Center shall maintain a national database of children tested 
and a separate registry for those found positive for hearing loss. It shall submit reports 
annually to the Advisory Committee and to the DOH on the status of and relevant health 
information derived from the database.  
A plan for long-term outcome evaluation of hearing loss screening utilizing the case registries 
shall be developed within one (1) year of passage of this Act by the NIH in consultation with 
the Advisory Committee. Implementation of this plan shall become a responsibility of the 
Advisory Committee.  
 
SEC. 15. Newborn Screening Fees. -The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) 
shall include the cost of hearing loss screening in its newborn package. The screening fee 
shall be applied to, among others, testing costs, education, registry, follow-up and reasonable 
overhead expenses. For this purpose, the PHIC shall develop a program for the gradual 
coverage of hearing loss screening, audiologic diagnostic evaluation, and intervention 
services subject to actuarial and feasibility studies.  
 
SEC. 
16. 
Authorization 
of 
Appropriations. 
- 
a. Nationwide Newborn Hearing Loss Screening, Diagnosis and Intervention Networks. –For 
the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 
DOH Fifteen Million Pesos (P15,000,000) for the current fiscal year, Thirty Million Pesos 
(P30,000,000) for the next fiscal year, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 
succeeding 
fiscal 
years. 
b. Technical Assistance, Data Management and Applied Research. -For the purpose of 
carrying our this Act, there are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the National Institutes 
of Health-Philippine National Ear Institute Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000) for the current fiscal 
year and Seven Million Pesos (P7,000,000) for the next fiscal year.  
 
SEC. 17. Implementing Rules. - Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 
DOH, in collaboration with relevant government agencies and professional associations, shall 
develop the implementing rules and regulations necessary to effectively implement the 
provisions of this Act.  
 
SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and 
administrative regulations, or any parts thereof, contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 19. Separability. -If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, 
the other provisions hereof shall remain valid and continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 20. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,