Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EYE 
EXAMINATIONS TO CHILDREN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Blindness and visual impairment are a growing public health concern in the country 
that affects about 1.98% of the Philippine population. However, due to socioeconomic barriers 
to accessing eye care, an estimated 4 million Filipinos suffer from undiagnosed eye problems.1
Meanwhile, data from the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) as of 2017 showed 
that one in 20 preschoolers and one in 4 school-aged children experienced eye problems. Over 
10% of Filipino children were also expected to have “visual acuity” issues or problems with 
their vision.  
 In 2019, the National Vision Screening Act or Republic Act 11358 was enacted to 
provide screening for the eye vision of kindergarten students and identify eye problems during 
early childhood.  
The proposed “Children’s Vision Improvement and Learning Readiness Act” seeks to 
complement RA 11358 by providing comprehensive eye examinations for children who are 
already identified as at high risk of vision impairment and expanding its coverage to children 
older than pre-school age. When approved into law shall add to the State’s efforts in ensuring 
the protection and promoting the right of the health of the people.  
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of the bill is immediately sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 
1 The Lancet Health Longevity. 2022. 
10539
June 24, 2024
12:45 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EYE 
EXAMINATIONS TO CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Children’s Vision 
Improvement and Learning Readiness Act”. 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms and 
phrases shall mean as follows: 
A. Secretary – means Secretary of Health;
B. Child – as defined by Part 1, Article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the
Child, shall mean every human being below the age of eighteen years; and
C. Comprehensive eye examination – means 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.
SECTION 3. Grants Regarding Comprehensive Eye Examinations for Children. - 
A) In General – The Secretary may make grants to cities and municipalities for the
purpose of:
1) Providing comprehensive eye examinations for children identified or
considered at high risk of vision impairment, with priority given to school-
based programs for children;
2) Providing subsequent treatment or services necessary to correct vision
problems; and
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3) Developing and disseminating, to parents, teachers, health care practitioners,
and the public, educational materials on recognizing signs of visual
impairment in children, and the State’s vision improvement initiatives.
B) Criteria and Coordination.
1) Criteria. – The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate professional and
consumer organizations including individuals with knowledge of age-
appropriate vision services, shall develop criteria –
a) Governing the operation of the grant program; and
b) For the collection of data related to vision assessment and the
utilization of follow up services.
C) Application. – A grant may be made under Paragraph (A) only if an application
for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application is in such form,
made in such manner, and contains such information as the Secretary may
require, including:
1) Information on existing government-funded children’s vision screening
programs;
2) a plan for the use of grant funds, including how funds will be used to
complement existing country’s efforts;
3) a plan to determine if a grant eligible child has received an age-appropriate
vision screening; and
4) a description of how funds will be used to provide items or services only as a
secondary payer to –
a) any government compensation program, under an insurance policy, or
under any government health benefits program; or
b) by any entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis.
D) Evaluation. – A grant may be made under paragraph (A) only if the municipality
involved agrees that, not later than one (1) year after the date on which amounts
under the grant are first received by the municipality, and annually thereafter
while receiving amounts under the grant, the municipality will submit to the
Secretary an evaluation of the operations and activities carried out under the
grant, including:
1) An assessment of the utilization of vision services and the status of
children receiving these services as a result of the activities carried out
under 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.
SECTION 4. Authorization of Appropriations. – For the purpose of carrying out this 
Act, such sums as may be deemed appropriate by the Secretary are hereby authorized 
to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. – If any portion of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 


SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,