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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
Second Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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S E N A T E  
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Vision loss can, especially without appropriate rehabilitation and sltills training, 
significantly impact an individual's ability to conduct activities of daily living, as well as 
developmental learning, communicating, working, health, and quality o f  life. While it is 
believed that half of all blindness can be prevented, the number of Filipinos who are blind 
or visually impaired is expected to double by 2030. One in twenty preschoolers 
experience visual impairment which, if unaddressed, can affect learning ability, 
personality, and adjustment in school. 
Vision rehabilitation helps people with vision loss to live safely and 
independently at home and in the community, reduce medication errors, cook and 
perform other daily activities reliably, and avoid accidents which may lead to injury or 
even the onset of additional disabilities, especially among older persons living with 
vision loss 
Greater efforts must be made at the national and local levels to increase awareness 
of vision loss and its causes, its impact, the importance of early diagnosis, treatment, and 
rehabilitation, and effective prevention strategies. 
This Act intends to establish a full-scale integrated public health strategy to 
comprehensively address vision loss and its causes that, at a minimum, includes the 
following: communication and education, surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention 
"research, and programs, policies, and systems change, 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
MANDATNG THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH HEALTH 
PROGRAMS TO PREVENT VISION LOSS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Conrress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Vision Preservation Act 
of 2008". 
SECION 2. Preventive Health Measures with Respect to Vision Loss. 
A. Communication and Education- 
1, In General - The Secretary of Health acting through the National Center for 
Disease Prevention and Control and the Degenerative Disease Office, shall 
expand and intensify programs to increase awareness of vision problems, 
including awareness of the following: 
a. the impact of vision problems; and 
b. the importance of early diagnosis, management, and effective 
prevention and rehabilitatioii strategies. 
2. Activities - In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may- 
a. conduct public service announcements and education campaigns; 
b. enter into partnerships with eye-health professional organizations and 
other vision-related organizations; 
c. conduct community disease prevention campaigns; 
d. conduct testing, evaluation, and model training for vision screeners 
based on scientific studies; and 
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e.evaluate strategies to reduce barriers to access to treatment by 
optometrists and ophthalmologists. 
3. Evaluation ~ In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall - 
a. establish appropriate measurements for public awareness of vision 
problems; 
b.establish appropriate measurements to determine the ellectiveness of 
existing campaigns to increase awareness of vision problems; 
c. establish quantitative benchmarks for determining the effectiveness of 
activities carried out under this subsection; and 
d. not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this section, 
submit a report to the Congress on the results achieved through such 
activities. 
B. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Health Services Research - 
1. In General - The Secretary shall expand and intensify activities to 
establish a solid scientific base of knowledge on the prevention, control, and 
rehabilitation of vision problems and related disabilities. 
2. Activities - In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may-- 
a. create a national ongoing surveillance system; 
b. identify and test screening modalities; 
c. evaluate strategies to reduce barriers to access to treatment by 
optometrists, 
ophthalmologists, 
and 
other 
vision 
rehabilitation 
professionals; 
d. evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of current and future 
interventions and community strategies; and 
e. update and improve knowledge about the true costs of vision problems 
and related disabilities. 
C. Programs, Policies, and Systems- 
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1, In General - The Secretary shall expand and intensify research within the 
Center for Disease Prevention and Control on the prevention and 
management of vision loss. 
2. Activities - In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may-- 
a.build partnerships with voluntary health organizations, nonprofit vision 
rehabilitation agencies, and local public health agencies, eye-health 
professional organizations, and organizations with an interest in vision 
issues; 
b.work with health care systems to better address vision problems and 
associated disabilities; and 
c. award grants for community outreach regarding vision loss to health 
care institutions and national vision organizations with broad community 
presence. 
SECTION 3. Prevention and Treatment of Underserved, Minority, and other 
Populations. - The Secretary of Health shall likewise institute the following: 
A. Expansion and Intensification of Vision Programs - The Secretary shall expand 
and intensify programs targeted to prevent vision loss, treat eye and vision 
conditions, and rehabilitate people of all ages who are blind or partially sighted in 
underserved and minority communities, inclnding the following: 
1, Vision care services at community health centers receiving assistance 
2. Vision rehabilitation programs at vision rehabilitation agencies, eye 
clinics, and hospitals. 
B. Voluntary Guidelines for Vision Screening- The Secretary, in consultation with 
eye-health professional organizations and other vision-related organizations, shall 
develop voluntary guidelines to ensure the quality of vision screening and 
appropriate referral €or comprehensive eye examinations and subsequent vision 
rehabilitation services. 
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SECTION 4. Vision Rehabilitation Professional Development Grants. - The 
Secretary of Health may make grants to eligible institutions of higher education or 
nonprofit organizations for the purpose of activities described in Section (2) (C) (2) (a) 
relating to vision rehabilitation professional development. 
A. Use of Funds - - The Secretary may not make a grant to an institution of higher 
education or a nonprofit organization under this section unless the institution or 
organization agrees to use the grant for the following: 
1. Developing and offering preparatory and continuing education training 
opportunities (incorporating state-of-the-art approaches, technologies, and 
therapies to meet the unique needs of older adults with vision loss) in - 
a. geriatrics among vision rehabilitation 
professionals, including 
professionals in the vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and 
mobility, and low vision therapy fields; and 
h. vision rehabilitation among occupational therapists and others in 
related rehabilitation and health disciplines. 
2. Conducting, and disseminating the findings and conclusions of, research 
011 the effectiveness of preparatory and continuing education training 
under paragraph (1). 
3. Developing and disseminating interdisciplinary course curricula for use in 
the preparation of new professionals in vision rehabilitation, occupational 
therapy, and related rehabilitation and health disciplines. 
4. Educating physicians, nurses, and other health care providers about the 
value of vision rehabilitation, to increase appropriate referral by such 
professionals for the full range of vision rehabilitation services available to 
older individuals with vision loss. 
B. Eligibility- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall 
be a university, academic medical center, national or regional nonprofit 
organization, community rehabilitation provider, or allied health educatioii 
program, or a consortium of such entities, that - 
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1. offers or coordinates education or training activities among professionals 
described in subsection (A)(l); or 
2. agrees to use the grant to expand its capacity lo coordinate such activities, 
C. Distribution of Grants- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall ensure that grantees offer or coordinate training for current and emerging 
professionals - 
1. from a variety of geographic regions and a range of different types and 
sizes of settings and facilities, including settings and facilities located in 
rural, urban, and suburban areas; and 
2. serving a variety of populations of older individuals with vision loss, 
including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and other 
underserved populations. 
D. Application- To seek a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require. 
SECTION 5. Separabiljg) Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive orders, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary 
to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or 
amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Esfectivity Clause. ~ 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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