HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

RECEIVED
s 10 AUG 2016
DATE:

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI
Quezon City

TIVE:
SEVENTEENTH CONGRES:

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First Regular Session si vt

282 | REGIST NIT

BILLS AND INDI X SERVICE

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Good vision is important to a child's physical development, contributing to his or her
success and school and overall well-being. At ages 2-5, a child will be fine-tuning the visual
abilities he has gained during infancy and developing new ones. Children use their vision to
guide their learning experiences; according to educational experts, 80% of learning is visual. It is
during this time that parents should be vigilant and be watchful on indications that may signal
visual problems.

According to the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI), which is under the Institutes of
Health of the University of the Philippines, one (1) in every twenty (20) pre-schoolers and one (1)
in every four (4) school-aged children has an eye problem. Furthermore, more than ten percent
(10%) of young children have visual acuity problems, including errors of refraction (EOR) and
amblyopia, even higher that the US’ and Europe's five to ten percent (5-10%). Because children
cannot, by themselves, identify that they have eye problems, studies recommend that vision
screening should ideally be registered for children starting at age three (3).

The Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology likewise emphasizes the importance of
normal eye alignment during infancy and childhood since poor vision at this stage affects the
child's performance in school, or the way he or she interacts with the community. if left untreated,
it may lead to more serious eye problems, including blindness.

Vision screening tests are simple methods used to identify children who have or at risk in
developing eye problems. It is deemed to be more efficient since it can identify numerous eye
problems such as strabismus, cataract, glaucoma, amblyopia and other refractive errors. It is
also cost-effective because instead of undergoing a comprehensive examination, the child is just
required to look at a penlight or flashlight, or to read a chart specifically made for vision
screening.

Out of all our senses, the sense of sight is the most abused and neglected. Hence, it is
important the vision screening tests be conducted at an early age, precisely to prevent
complications in the future. It is a call for the Department of Health, the Department of Education
and all related institutions to collaborate and establish a centralized and organized program for
vision screening tests.

This bill has been filed during the 16" Congress but was not passed due to lack of
material time. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

LLITA B. SUANSI


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2822

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL VISION SCREENING PROGRAM FOR ALL PUBLIC
KINDERGARTEN PUPILS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “National Vision
Screening Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ Pursuant to Article lI, Section 15 of the 1987
Philippine Constitution, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. In line with
this policy, the State shall endeavor to promote every Filipino’s full potential through good
vision by creating ways and means to address vision problems, including blindness, among
children.

‘Towards this end, the State shall institute a program that will help screen the children
for visual problems.

SECTION 3. Establishment of a National Vision Screening Program. ~ A National
Vision Screening Program (NVSP) is hereby established under the Department of Education
(DepED) which is primarily intended to screen the eye vision of kindergarten pupils.

SECTION 4. Program Objectives. - The objectives of the NVSP are:

(a) To conduct a simple vision screening test on kindergarten pupils through trained
teachers and identify pupils with possible visual problems;

(b) To identify early childhood visual problems;

(c) To provide immediate attention to visually impaired kindergarten pupils and
create a referral system so that they may be checked and treated by eye care practitioners;

(d) To develop a vision screening results database for all kindergarten pupils; and

{e) To conduct continuing research on the state of visual impairment among
kindergarten pupils.

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SECTION 5. Program Implementation. ~ The DepED shall lead the implementation
of the NVSP, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH and the Philippine Eye
Research Institute (PERI), which is under the National Institutes of Health of the University
of the Philippines (UP).

In the implementation of the NVSP, the DepED shall:

(a) In coordination with the DOH and the PERI, administer the vision screening
program to all public kindergarten pupils using a Vision Screening Kit which includes charts
with symbols or numbers, occluders, and transparent response key: Provided, That the
DOH and PERI may recommend to adopt new modes or methods of vision screening based
on the latest trends and development;

(b) In coordination with the DOH and the PERI, shall train and certify teachers in
conducting the vision screening program;

(©) In consultation with the DOH and the PERO, develop a system of referral and
corrective measures for kindergarten pupils who are suspected or diagnosed to have
possible eye ailments;

(d) Create a vision screening database containing the results of the screening per
child and visual conditions diagnosed by the eye care practitioners; and

(@) Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the NVSP.

SECTION 6. PhilHealth’s Benefit Package. - The Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PhilHealth) shall develop a benefit package for the consultation and treatment
of eye diseases of children.

SECTION 7. Vision Screening Training. - The PERI shall be mainly responsible for
training of Vision Screening Trainers for purposes of quality assurance. It shall likewise
recommend the appropriate Vision Screening material to be used.

SECTION 8. Research. - The DOH and the PERI shall conduct research and
provide evidence-based recommendation to the DepED on matters pertaining to the NVSP.
Furthermore, the PERI shall perform continuing research on childhood-related eye vision
ailments,

SECTION 9. The Vision Screening Continuing Research Fund. — There is hereby
created a Vision Screening Continuing Research (VSCR) Fund to be sourced from any
donation or bequest made to the DepED or DOH in favor of the NVSP. The VSCR Fund
shall be used to fund the PERI for its continuing research program in connection with
childhood-related eye vision ailments.

SECTION 10. Tax Exemption. - Any donation or bequest made to the DepED, DOH,
or PERI for the NVSP and for the VSCR Fund shall be exempt from donor's tax and the
same shall be considered allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor, in
accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as
amended: Provided, That the donation is duly approved by the DepED, DOH or UP.

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SECTION 11. Appropriations. - The amount currently appropriated in the General
Appropriations Act for related activities under the DepED and DOH shall be allocated and
utilized for the initial implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be
necessary for the NVSP's implementation, including continuing research, shall be included
under the budget of the DepED and DOH in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
the approval of this Act, the DepED, in consultation with the DOH, the PERI, and other
participating government agencies, shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations of
this Act

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
issuances, rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 15. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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