JSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Repubiic of the Philippines RECEIVED

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE: bie 10 AUG 2016

Quezon City
vive: Chih
BY! (os

REGISTRATION UNIT
GYLLS AND INDEX SERVICE

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2823

House Bill No. “7” "

Introduced by Representative Estrellita ri Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Visual impairment among the elderly is a consequence of a functional loss of vision
This can be caused by degenerative eye disorders and other underlying diseases. Senior
citizens with functional visual impairments are more prone to falls, burns, and other forms of
injuries, as well as bouts of depression. Because visual impairment substantially interferes
with a person's activities of daily living, and with frail bodies, senior citizens rely and become
dependent on others for their care. There is also the matter of costly medical services, which
most of our senior citizens are unable to avail.

By intervening in a timely fashion and linking senior citizens to appropriate services,
the State can assist in maintaining the health, welfare, and improve the quality of life of our
elderly.

This bill seeks to establish a national senior vision services program which will
provide comprehensive services to the elderly who suffer from functional visual impairments.
The services included in the program are rehabilitation and equipment services; advice,
information and signposting service; and a registry for senior citizens with functional visual
impairments. Client assessment, information and referral for health care services, as well as
client and family counseling and education are integrated in the abovementioned services.

Elderly persons are eligible for the national senior vision services if they suffer from a
visual impairment that substantially interferes with their ability to perform activities of daily
living, even if they are not considered “legally blind,”

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill s earnestly sought.

RELLITA B. SUANSING


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2823

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL SENIOR VISION SERVICES PROGRAM FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS WITH FUNCTIONAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS

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 “Senior Vision Services
Act.”

SECTION 2. Deelaration of Policy. — Pursuant to Article Il, Section 16 of the 1987
Philippine Constitution, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them

The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social
services to all people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the
underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children.

Pursuant to these policies, it shall establish a national senior vision services program
for elderly persons with functional visual impairments.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term

(a) “Senior vision services” means the provision of medical and other needed
services to elderly persons who have functional visual impairment. These services may
include, but shall not be limited to, vision screening; eye examination; information and
referral; client and family counseling; referrals for ophthalmological, optometric or other
health care services; provision of corrective eyeglasses; technical assistance and training
for human services personnel to serve persons who are blind or visually impaired; and low
vision screening;

(b) “Visual impairment” or “vision impairment” means a vision loss to such as
degree as to qualify an additional support need through a significant limitation of visual
capability resulting from disease, trauma, congenital or degenerative conditions that can not
be corrected by conventional means such as refractive correction, medication, or surgery;

(©) “Functional visual impairment’ means an impairment of sight that substantially
interferes with an elderly person's ability to perform specific daily living skills and tasks.

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Persons who are not regarded as legally blind, pursuant to this paragraph, but who
experience such an impairment of sight, shall be deemed eligible for senior vision services
pursuant to this Act;

SECTION 4. National Senior Vision Services Program. - There is hereby
established a national senior vision services program for elderly persons with functional
visual impairments and shall be under the direction of the Department of Health (DOH). The
Secretary of Health shall include in the program services, such as, but not limited to:

(a) Rehabilitation and Equipment Service - The Rehabilitation And Equipment
Service shall provide assessments and individual packages of rehabilitation and support on
personal care, access to communication and support on other difficulties of senior citizens
caused by their functional visual impairment.

Senior citizens can access this service through:
(1) A consultant ophthalmologist;
(2) A Social Work Team;
(3) A high street optician, general practitioner, or other health professional.

(b) Advice, Information and Signposting Service - The Advice, Information and
Signposting Service is aimed at assisting senior citizens with functional visual impairment
and their caregivers when they are consulting at the Ophthalmic Outpatient
Department/Ophthalmic Wards at government hospitals.

(©) Registry for Senior Citizens with Functional Visual Impairments. — Hospitals
shall also maintain the Registry for Senior Citizens with Functional Visual Impairments. This
receives referrals from consultant ophthalmologists and supports people to access a range
of support services.

Moreover, in providing senior vision services, the DOH shall take into consideration
the lack of services for elderly persons in need of senior vision services to establish or to
expand existing blind or visually impaired services currently provided or available in
municipalities and cities throughout the country. The DOH shall likewise ensure that due
consideration is given to the geographic and existing service demands for senior vision
services within a municipality or city.

SECTION 5. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) is
hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury for the first three (3) years
of implementation of this Act immediately following its effectivity. Thereafter, the sums
necessary for its continuous implementation shall be included in the annual appropriations
of the Department of Health as a separate and distinct item

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

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The DOH shall submit a report to the House of Representatives and the Senate,
prior to, but in no event later than, December thirty-first, in the year following the enactment
of this Act, and annually thereafter, which shall include, but not limited to

(a) Financial reports of the program operations established pursuant to this Act;

(b) An analysis of the program's ability to provide such nationwide senior vision
services to elderly persons with functional visual impairments;

(c) Recommendations on the continuation of such program and the need for
program expansion, if appropriate; and

(d)_ Other information deemed necessary.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
issuances, rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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