Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VISION CARE TO
CHILDREN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution mandates that the State shall defend the right of children to assistance,
including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse,
cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.1 In addition, the State
shall protect and promote the right to health of the people, including children.2
Eye care is an integral part of overall health. According to research by the Philippine Eye
Research Institute (PERI) of the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines-
Manila, 10 percent of kindergarten-aged Filipino pupils are suffering from visual impairments. In
a survey, four pupils in every class of 40 have vision problems.3
Early visual impairment is a major public health problem experienced globally. Unfortunately, in
poor communities and rural areas, access to proper eyecare is limited. More often than not, poor
children suffering from poor eyesight are unable to receive corrective services and necessary
treatments to improve their conditions.
This legislative measure aims to provide the necessary support to improve children’s access to
eyecare through the establishment of a grant program. The Department of Health will be tasked
to provide grants to local government units in order to provide comprehensive eye examinations
and provide treatments to identified children with eye problems. The passage of this bill is highly
urge in order to remove barriers to child eyecare in the Philippines, and improve the quality of
health of Filipino children.
HON. MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS
Representative, 3rd District of Cotabato
1 Section 3(2), Article XV, 1987 Constitution
2 Section 15, Article II, 1987 Constitution
3 https://www.onenews.ph/articles/more-filipino-kids-developing-visual-impairment
May 8, 2023
1:03 pm
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VISION CARE TO
CHILDREN
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. – This act shall be known as the “Vision Care for Kids Act.”
Section 2. Definition of Terms. – The following terms as used in this Act shall be defined
as follows:
(1)“Comprehensive Eye Examination” includes 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.
(2)“LGU” refers to a local government unit, which may be a province, city or a
municipality.
(3)“Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Health.
Section 3. Grant Regarding Vision Care for Children. – The Secretary shall carry out this
grant program to award grants to LGUs on the basis of an established review process for the
purpose of complementing existing government efforts for:
(a) Providing
comprehensive
eye
examinations
by
a
licensed
optometrist
or
ophthalmologist for children who have been previously identified through a vision
screening or eye examination by a licensed health care provider or vision screener as
needing such services, with priority given to children who are under 8 years old;
(b) Providing treatment or services, subsequent to the examinations described in the
aforementioned paragraph, necessary to correct vision problems; and
(c) Developing and disseminating to parents, teachers, and health care practitioners’
educational materials on recognizing signs of visual impairment in children; Provided
that the LGU shall not expend more than 20 percent of the amount received under the
grant to carry out the purpose described in this paragraph.
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
Section 4. Criteria and Coordination. – The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate
professional and consumer organizations including individuals with knowledge of age
appropriate
vision services, shall develop a criteria governing the operation of the grant program under
Section 3, and for the collection of data related to vision assessment and the utilization of follow
up services.
Section 5. Application. – To be eligible to receive a grant under Section 3, an LGU shall
submit to the Secretary an application in such form, made in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including the following:
(a) Information on existing children vision programs;
(b) A plan for the use of grant funds, including how funds will be used to complement
existing State efforts (including possible partnerships with non-profit entities);
(c) A plan to determine if a grant eligible child has been identified as provided for in
Section 3; and
(d) A description of how funds will be used to provide items or services only as a
secondary payer to any local government compensation program, under an insurance
policy, or under any government health benefits program.
Section 6. Evaluations. – To be eligible to receive a grant under Section 3, an LGU shall
agree that not later than one (1) year after the date on which amounts under the grant are first
received by it, and annually thereafter while receiving amounts under the grant, the LGU shall
submit to the Secretary an evaluation of the operations and activities carried out under the grant,
including-
(a) An assessment of the utilization of vision services and the status of children receiving
those services as a result of the activities carried out under the grant;
(b) The collection, analysis, and reporting of children’s vision data according to guidelines
prescribed by the Secretary; and
(c) Such other information as the Secretary may require.
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Health (DOH), in
consultation with Department of the Interior and Local Government shall formulate the rules and
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act within six (6) months from its
effectivity.
Section 8. Appropriations. – Such sums as may be necessary for the initial implementation
of this Act shall be taken from the current appropriations of the DOH. Thereafter, the fund
7954


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.
Section 9. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions hereof not affected
thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.
Section 10. Repealing Clause. –Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provision of this Act is
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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