FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. No . .-3129 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: "The State shall protect and promote the 
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them." 
According to the Philippine Glaucoma Foundation and Philippine Glaucoma Society, 
glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause gradual destruction of the optic nerve. The optic nerve 
is the cable that connects the eye to the brain. Optic nerve damage causes shrinking of the visual 
field and, eventually, blindness. It reportedly causes irreversible blindness. Unlike blindness 
caused by cataracts which can be reversed with cataract surgery, vision lost due to glaucoma is 
gone forever. 
The Philippine Glaucoma Society states that glaucoma is the second leading cause of 
irreversible blindness in the world. One study estimates that 60.5 million people worldwide have 
glaucoma with 8.4 million of them blind in both eyes. I In the Philippines, glaucoma is the 3rd 
leading cause of blindness in both eyes and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness of both 
eyes.2 
Glaucoma can occur at any age but by far the most commonly afTected are older 
individuals. Persons with the following risk factors have a higher chance of developing or having 
glaucoma: 
• 
Elevated intraocular pressure (eye pressure) 
• 
Family history of glaucoma 
• 
Age over 45 
• 
Previous eye injury 
I Quigley H, Broman AT. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2006. 
2 Cubillan LOP, Olival'-Santos E. Philippine Journal ofOphthahnology. 2005. 


• 
Chronic steroid use 
• 
Diabetes mellitus 
• 
People of Chinese ancestry 
These persons should have themselves screened for glaucoma by an ophthalmologist 
(EyeMD). 
Most cases of glaucoma have no symptoms or very subtle symptoms. Because the vision 
loss starts at the edges of the visual field (peripheral vision) and occurs gradually, many 
glaucoma sufferers do not realize that there is a problem until they have lost a large area of their 
vision. 3 
Thus, this bill seeks to establish a grant program to provide screenings for glaucoma to 
individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma . 
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MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO 
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3 http://www.philglalicomasociety.orgiassets/Glalicoma%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PI-IlLIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
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SE1iAT~ 
S. No. ;:JI S 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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CREATING A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SCREENINGS FOR GLAUCOMA TO 
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INDIVIDUALS DETERMINED TO BE AT HIGH RISK FOR GLAUCOMA 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Glaucoma Screening Act"; 
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SECTION 2. Grant Program 10 Provide Screenings for Glaucoma to High Risk 
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Individuals. -
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(a) Grant Program. - The Secretary of Health (here called the "Secretary") shall establish 
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a program to award a grant to an eligible entity to provide screenings for glaucoma for 
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individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma. 
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For purposes of this Act, "individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma" means 
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those individuals determined by the Secretary to be at high risk for glaucoma without regard (0 
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the age of the individual. 
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(b) Eligibility. - In order to be eligible to receive a grant, an entity shall (1) submit an 
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application at such time, in such form, and with such information and assurances as (he Secretary 
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may require; and (2) be dedicated solely to screening individuals for glaucoma and other eye 
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diseases. 
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(c) Use of Funds. - An entity receiving a grant shall use the grant in accordance with the 
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following requirements: 
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(1) 
The entity shall utilize mobile screening units to test for glaucoma and 
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other eye diseases. 
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(2) 
The entity shall target screening activities to populations primarily 
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consisting of individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma. 
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(3) 
(4) 
The entity shall form partnerships with government health centers to 
increase awareness of the need for screenings for glaucoma and to provide 
screenings for glaucoma for individuals determined to be at high risk for 
glaucoma, individuals with a family history Df glaucDma, and individuals 
with diabetes. 
The entity shall provide grants tD approved medical residency training 
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programs to permit students participating in the programs to conduct 
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screenings for glaucoma fDr individuals determined to be at high risk for 
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glaucoma. 
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SECTION 3. Authorization a/Appropriations. - There is authorized to be appropriated 
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Ten Million Pesos (PI 0,000,000.00) for grants under this Act for each of the first five (5) fiscal 
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years beginning after the date of the effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
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unconstitutional, any other provisiDn not affected thereby shall remain in full fDrce and effect. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
Ifldp16feb2012 
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