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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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S. No, 1571 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Eighty percent (80%) of what children learn is acquired through the visual processing of 
information. 
Visual impairment is one of the ten (10) most common causes of disability in the country. 
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 bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
J 571 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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S[P -5 P 5 :36 
1 
AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EYE 
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EXAMINATIONS TO CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House 0/ Representatives 0/ the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Children's Vision 
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Improvement and Learning Readiness Act." 
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SECTION 2. Definition o/Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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(A) 
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Health; and 
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(B) 
"Comprehensive eye examination" means an assessment of a patient's history, 
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general medical observation, external and ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity, ocular 
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alignment and motility, refraction, and as appropriate, binocular vision or gross visual fields, 
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performed by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. 
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SECTION 3. Grants Regarding Comprehensive Eye Examinations/or Children.-
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(A) 
In General. - The Secretary may make grants to cities and municipalities for the 
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purpose of: 
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(1) 
Providing comprehensive eye examinations for children identified or 
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considered at high'risk of'vision impail'll1ent; with priority given to school--
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based programs for children who are under the age of nine (9); 
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(2) 
Providing subsequent treatment or services necessary to correct vision 
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problems; and 
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(3) 
Developing and disseminating to parents, teachers, health care practitioners, 
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and the public, educational materials on recognizing signs of visual 
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impairment in children, and the State's vision improvement initiatives. 
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(B) 
Criteria and Coordination. - The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate 
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professional and consumer organizations, including individuals with knowledge of age 
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appropriate vision services, shall develop criteria -
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(i) 
Governing the operation of the grant program; and 
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(ii) 
For the collection of data related to vision assessment and the utilization of 
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follow up services. 
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(C) 
Application. - A grant may be made under paragraph (A) only if an application 
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for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application is in such form, is made in such 
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manner, and contains such information as the Secretary may require, including-
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(1) 
Information on existing government-funded children's vision screening 
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programs; 
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(2) 
A plan for the use of grant funds, including how funds will be used to 
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complement existing government efforts; and 
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(3) 
A description of how funds will be used to provide items or services only as 
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a secondary payer to -
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(i) 
Any government compensation program, under an insurance policy, or 
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under any government health benefits program; or 
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(ii) By any entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis. 
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(D) 
Evaluations. - A grant may be made under paragraph (A) only if the municipality 
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or city involved agrees that, not later than one (1) year after the date on which amounts under the 
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grant are first received by the municipality or city, and aunually thereafter while receiving 
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amounts under the grant, the municipality or city shall submit to the Secretary an evaluation of 
. , 
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the operations and activities carried out under the grant, including-
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(1) 
An assessment of the utilization of vision services and the status of children 
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receiving these services as a result of the activities carried out under the 
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grant; 
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1 
2 
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(2) 
The collection, analysis, and reporting of children's vision data according to 
guidelines prescribed by the Secretary; and 
(3) 
Such other infon;nation as the Secretary may require. 
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SECTION 4. Authorization of Appropriations. - For the purpose of carrying out this Act, 
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such sums as are appropriate are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
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Treasury. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. -
If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3