EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2180
DATE
TIME
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EYE 
EXAMINATIONS TO CHILDREN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 11358, otherwise known as the National Vision Screening Act, 
was enacted in July 2019. It is intended to screen the eye vision of kindergarten 
students and identify eye problems at early childhood.
This proposed measure seeks to complement the said law. It aims to provide 
comprehensive eye examinations for children already identified at high risk of vision 
impairment.
Data from the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) as of 2017 showed that 
one in 20 pre-schoolers and one in 4 school-aged children experienced eye problems. 
Over 10% of Filipino children were also expected to have "visual acuity" issues or 
problems with their vision.
The Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) reports that as of 2017, one (1) 
in twenty (20) pre-schoolers and one (1) in four (4) school-aged children experienced 
eye problems. With the current distance learning set-up among Filipino students, this 
number is expected to rise. Thus, the urgency of this measure.
RAM0N/60NG REVILLA, JR.


EiGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE
S. No. 2180
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
DATE
T»ME
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EYE 
EXAMINATIONS TO CHILDREN
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 "Children's Vision
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Improvement and Learning Readiness Act".
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Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms and
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phrases shall mean as follows:
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A. Secretary- means Secretary of Health;
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B. Comprehensive eye examination - means an assessment of a patient's
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history, general medical observation, external and ophthalmoscopic
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examination, visual acuity, ocular alignment and motility, refraction, and
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as appropriate, binocular vision or gross visual fields, performed by an
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optometrist or an ophthalmologist.
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Sec. 3. Grants Regarding Comprehensive Eye Examinations for Children. -
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A) In General - The Secretary may make grants to cities and municipalities
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for the purpose of:
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1) Providing comprehensive eye examinations for children identified or
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considered at high risk of vision impairment, with priority given to
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school-based programs for children who are under the age of nine
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(9);
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2) Providing subsequent treatment or services necessary to correct 
vision problems; and
3) Developing and disseminating, to parents, teachers, health care 
practitioners, and the public, educational materials on recognizing 
signs of visual Impairment in children, and the State's vision 
improvement initiatives.
B) Criteria and Coordination.
1) Criteria. - The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate 
professional and consumer organizations including individuals with 
knowledge of age-appropriate vision services, shall develop criteria -
a) Governing the operation of the grant program; and
b) For the collection of data related to vision assessment and the 
utilization of follow up services.
C) Application. - A grant may be made under Paragraph (A) only If an 
application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application 
is in such form, made in such manner, and contains such information as 
the Secretary may require. Including:
1) Information on existing government-funded children's vision 
screening programs;
2) a plan for the use of grant funds, including how funds will be used 
to complement existing country's efforts;
3) a plan to determine If a grant eligible child has received an age- 
appropriate vision screening; and
4) a description of how funds will be used to provide items or services 
only as a secondary payer to -
a) any government compensation program, under an insurance 
policy, or under any government health benefits program; or
b) by any entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis.
D) Evaluations. - A grant may be made under paragraph (A) only if the 
municipality involved agrees that, not later than one (1) year after the 
date on which amounts under the grant are first received by the 
municipality, and annually thereafter while receiving amounts under the


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grant, the municipality will submit to the Secretary an evaluation of the
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operations and activities carried out under the grant, Including:
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1) An assessment of the utilization of vision services and the status of
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children receiving these services as a result of the activities carried
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out under the grant;
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2) The collection, analysis, and reporting of children's vision data
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according to guidelines prescribed by the Secretary; and
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3) Such other information as the Secretary may require.
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Sec. 4. Authorization of Appropriations. - For the purpose of carrying out this
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Act, such sums as may be deemed appropriate by the Secretary are hereby authorized
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to be appropriated from the National Treasury.
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Sec. 5. Separability Clause. If any portion of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall
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continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and
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regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed
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or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 7. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication In the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved.