CEIVED
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5381

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ESTRELLITA “GING” B, SUANSING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Visual impairment among the elderly is a consequence of a functional
loss of vision. This can be caused by degenerative eye disorders and other
underlying diseases. Senior citizens with functional visual impairment are
more prone to falis, burns, and other form of injuries, as well as bouts of
depression. Because visual impairment substantially interferes with a
person’s activities of daily’living, and with frail bodies, senior citizens rely
and become dependent on others for their care. There is also the matter of
costly medical services, which most of our senior citizens are unable to

avail.

By intervening in a timely fashion and linking senior citizens to
appropriate services, the State can assist in maintaining the health, welfare,

and improve the quality of life of our elderly.

This bill seeks to establish a national senior vision services program
which will provide comprehensive services to the elderly who suffer from
functional visual impairments. The services included in the program are
rehabilitation and equipment service; advice, information and signposting
service; and a registry for senior citizens with functional visual impairments.
Client assessment, information and referral for health care services, as well

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as client and family counseling and education are integrated in the

abovementioned services.

Elderly persons are eligible for the national senior vision services if
they suffer from a visual impairment that substantially interferes with their

ability to perform activities of daily living, even if they are not “legally blind."

In view of the forgoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

'RELLITA B. SUANSING
1st District, Nueva Ecija

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5381

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ESTRELLITA “GING” B. SUANSING

AN ACT
CREATING A NATIONAL SENIOR VISION SERVICES PROGRAM FOR
ELDERLY PERSONS 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 “Senior Vision
Services Act.”

SECTION 2, Declaration of Policies. - It is the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health

consciousness among them.

The State shall adopt integrated and comprehensive approach to
health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health
and other social services to all people at affordable cost. There shall be
priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women,

and children.

Pursuant to these policies, it shall establish a national senior vision

services program for elderly persons with functional visual impairments.

SECTION 8. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term


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(A) “Senior vision services” means the provision of medical and other
needed services to elderly persons who have a functional visual
impairment. These services may include, but shall not be limited to,
vision screening; eye examination; information and referral; client
and family counseling; referrals for ophthalmological, optometric, or
other health care services; provision of corrective eyeglasses;
technical assistance and training for human services personnel to

serve persons who are blind or visually impaired; and low vision
screening;

(B) “Visual impairment” or “vision impairment” means a vision loss to
such a degree as to qualify as an additional support need through a
significant limitation of visual capability resulting from either
disease, trauma, congenital, or degenerative conditions that cannot
be corrected by conventional means such as refractive correction,
medication, or surgery;

(C) “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 senior vision
services pursuant to this Act;

(D) “Elderly” or “senior citizen” means any resident of the Philippines
who is at least sixty (60) years of age or older; and

(2) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health

SECTION 4. National Senior Vision Services Program. - There is hereby
established a national senior vision services program for elderly persons
with functional visual impairments and shall be under the direction of the
Secretary of Health. The Secretary of Health shall include in the program

services such as, but not limited to:

(A) Rehabilitation and Equipment Service. - The Rehabilitation and
Equipment Service shall provide assessments and individual
packages of rehabilitation and support on personal care, access to

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communication and support on other difficulties of senior citizens
caused by their functional visual impairment.
Senior citizens can access this service through:

(1) A consultant ophthalmologist;

(2) A Social Work Team;

(3) A high street optician, general practitioner, or other

health professional.
2)

Advice, Information and Signposting Service. - The Advice,
Information and Signposting Service is aimed at assisting senior
citizens with functional visual impairment and their caregivers when
they are consulting at the Ophthalmic Outpatient
Department/Ophthalmic Wards at government hospitals.

(C) Registry for Senior Citizens with Functional Visual Impairments, -
Hospitals shall also maintain the Registry for Senior Citizens with
Functional Visual Impairments. This receives referrals from
consultant ophthalmologists and supports people to access a range

of support services.

Moreover, in providing senior vision services, the Secretary shall take into
consideration the lack of services for elderly persons in need of senior vision
services to establish or to expand existing blind or visually impaired services
currently provided or available in municipalities and cities throughout the
country. The Secretary shall likewise ensure than due consideration is given
to the geographic and existing service demands for senior vision services

within a municipality or city.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate the
implementing rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act.

‘The Secretary shall submit a report to the House of Representatives
and the Senate, prior to, but in no event later than, December thirty-first, in

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the year following enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, which
shall include, but not be limited to:

(A) Financial reports of the program operations established pursuant to
this Act;

(B) An analysis of the program’s ability to provide such nationwide
senior vision services to elderly persons with functional visual
impairments;

(C) Recommendations on the continuation of such program and the
need for program expansion, if appropriate; and

(D) Other information deemed necessary.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty Million Pesos
(PhP50,000,000.00) 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.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not

otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. ~ Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,

modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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