EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 8 5 2
of tb? #>rcrrtarp
'19 
AUG-1 
P 2  ^ 5
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE L i K ; aE -
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL SIGHT STRATEGY PLAN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article II, Section 15 provides:
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to 
health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them.
Article XIII, Section 11, likewise provides:
Section 
11. 
The 
State 
shall 
adopt 
an 
integrated 
and 
comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social 
services available to ail the people at affordable cost, xxx
Sight is one of the more preferred senses, through which most of our daily 
tasks are performed. However, the occurrence of the high incidence of vision defects 
and abnormalities, which poses serious health issues on many Filipinos, is apparent 
in our country and yet eye care continues to be the least priority if our government 
when it comes to public health.
Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that 36 million 
people all over the world are blind, while 217 million people have moderate to severe 
vision impairment.1 The Department of Health’s (DOH) latest statistics estimate that 
about two (2) million Filipinos suffer from moderate to severe visual impairment. It
1 https://w w w .pressreader.eom /philippines/m anila-bulletin/20181011/281698320704423


further reported that around 332,150 people in the country were bilaterally blind 
while the number of persons with bilateral low vision had reached 2.179 million. 2 
Moreover, according to the WHO, the Philippines is among the three countries in the 
Western Pacific that account for the most incidence of blindness in the region.
We need to consider the various implications and effects of visual impairment 
on the relatively large number of affected individuals in our society. It is often 
overlooked how visual impairment impeded learning and diminishes the general 
well-being of those who suffer from them. It similarly affects our economic growth 
more than we realize because visual impairment could vastly result to loss of 
productivity and income which likewise could lead to poverty and social dependency.
This proposed measure seeks to address the need to strengthen vision care in 
the country. It pursues to institutionalize a National Sight Strategy that provides a 
comprehensive national plan of action to address the prevalence of vision defects, 
including blindness. It sets out measures for the appropriate deployment and use of 
resources, mandates the collection and dissemination of data, promotes the practice 
of vision health-related professions, and authorizes the use of public facilities to 
make vision care services accessible to all.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
LIE I LA M. DE LIM A
2 The Manila Times. 26 May 2018. Eye H ealth needs m ore attention. Retrieved from 
https://www.manilatimes.net/eve-health-of-filipinos-needs-more-attention/401198/


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 8 S 2
^rutUi- 
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•19 
AUG-1 
P 2 --4 5
RECt v/.-u b
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL SIGHT STRATEGY PLAN
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
1 
Section i. Title. - This law shall be known as the “National Sight Strategy
2 
Plan Act”.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - The physical well-being of the citizenry,
4 
including their vision health, is a primary concern of the State. The role of vision care
5 
professionals and providers, including ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians,
6 
in safeguarding and enhancing the vision health of Filipinos, including preventing
7 
blindness, is recognized and shall be strengthened.
8 
Sec. 3. National Sight Strategy. -
9 
a. The Department of Health (DOH), within one year from the effectivity of this
10 
Act and in consultation with all stakeholders in the field of vision care, shall
11 
formulate a National Sight Strategy that shall address the following:
12 
1. The collection, collation, organization and publication of data and statistics
13 
on the incidence and prevalence of vision abnormalities such as blindness,
14 
errors of refraction and common eye diseases, and the causes of such
15 
medical conditions;
16 
2. The formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national strategy
17 
to address vision health issues including the prevention and treatment of
18 
blindness and visual defects, deployment of personnel, allocation of public


1 
resources, and public education to increase awareness of the importance of
2 
protecting and improving vision health at all ages;
3 
3. The promotion and development, in underserved areas in the country, of the
4 
study and practice of vision health-related professions such as
5 
ophthalmology, optometry, and opticianry; and
6 
4. The 
undertaking 
of 
studies 
and 
consultations 
to 
formulate
7 
recommendations on the inclusion of vision care services in national health
8 
programs such as PhilHealth.
9 
b. As part of the National Sight Strategy, all national and local government
10 
healthcare facilities such as hospitals, medical centers and clinics, shall be made
11 
available for the establishment of eye care clinics or centers where eye care
12 
professionals can provide ready access to quality vision care, especially to those
13 
who could not otherwise afford them.
14 
Sec. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
15 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the available appropriations of the
16 
DOH under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be
17 
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General
18 
Appropriations Act.
19 
Sec. 5. Reporting. -  DOH shall submit, upon completion, the National Sight
20 
Strategy Plans to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
21 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and
22 
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby
23 
repealed or modified accordingly.
24 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this
25 
Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not
26 
be affected and thereby remain in full force and effect.
27 
Sec. 8. Ejfectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
28 
complete publication in at least two (2) national newTspapers of general circulation.
Approved,