1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives ERIC G. YAP, PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, 
and EDVIC G. YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution provides that not only the family has the duty to care for its 
elderly members but also the state through just programs of social security.  
Currently, the Philippines is experiencing increase in ageing population. While it is 
true that the vulnerability to illnesses becomes rampant in old age, the country’s poor 
health literacy causes the low uptake of eye care services as many Filipinos harbor 
misconceptions about vision problems and view visual impairment as a natural part 
of ageing, when in fact, it is not. As a response, the country must strengthen eye care 
services at the primary care level in conformity with the lesson that prevention is 
always better than cure.  
However, the latest World Social Protection Report from 2017-2019 shows that only 
39.8% of people older than the statutory pensionable age in the Philippines receive an 
old-age pension, may it be contributory, noncontributory or both—making basic 
health services unreachable to the elderly. Hence, it is high time that the government 
provides more comprehensive eye care services, integrate eye care within local health 
systems, and confront common eye diseases that cause reversible and irreversible 
visual impairment, most especially to the elderly. Through this proposed measure, the 
National Eye Service Program for the Elderly will be established which shall be 
implemented by the Department of Health (DOH) through its coordination to the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), thereby increasing the access 
of the elderly, even those in the far-flung areas, to quality eye care programs.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ERIC G. YAP 
PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
       EDVIC G. YAP 
February 20, 2023
8:19 am
7205


 1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives ERIC G. YAP, PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, and 
EDVIC G. YAP 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL EYE SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY 
WITH FUNCTIONAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS 
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 “Eye Service Program 
for the Elderly Act”. 
SEC. 2. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
a. “Eye services for the elderly” means the provision of medical and non-
medical but essential services to elderly persons who have a functional
visual impairment.
b. “Functional visual impairment” means an impairment of sight that
substantially interferes with an elderly person’s ability to perform specific
daily living skills and tasks. Persons who are not regarded as legally blind,
pursuant to this paragraph, but who experience such an impairment of
sight, shall be deemed eligible for the program pursuant to this Act; and
c.
“Elderly” means an individual over sixty (60) years of age.
SEC. 4. National Eye Service Program for the Elderly. - There is hereby 
established a National Eye Service Program for the Elderly with functional visual 
impairments. 
SEC. 5. Implementing Agency. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall 
implement the program enunciated in the preceding section of this Act in 
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as part 
of its services intended to benefit the elderly. 
7205


 
 
 
 2 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOH shall promulgate the 
implementing rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) is 
hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury for the first three 
(3) years of implementation of this Act immediately following its enactment. 
Thereafter, the sums necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the annual appropriations of the Department of Health as a separate and 
distinct item. 
 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain 
in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations 
inconsistent with or contrary to this Act are hereby deemed accordingly repealed or 
amended. 
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
from publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,