Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 29 fue 2oi3
First Regular Session a

HOUSE BILL NO. 2008

Introduced by Congresswoman Lorna Quinto Velasc¢

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides:

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the
people and instill health consciousness among them.

Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides:

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

Eye care is an important part of the health development of Filipinos. Without such, a
person could not hope to live a healthy and complete life. Unfortunately, affordable and
accessible eye care programs are lacking in our country, especially with the marginalized
and rural communities of our country. Thus, pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution,
as provided for above, the State should promote the right to healthy eyes and vision of
‘our countrymen by granting easily accessible eye care through the establishment of
designated ophthalmologists in every municipality, city and province.

The creation of these new positions would guaranty that every member of a Filipino
community can have their eyes or vision checked without having to worry about the
potential financial burden in their budget.

It is in this light that this bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7160 as amended by
Republic Act No. 8553, otherwise known as “Local Government Code”, by adding new
government positions, more specifically: municipal, city and provincial ophthalmologist
officers,


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


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo, 2008

Introduced by Congresswoman Lorna Quinto Velasco

AN ACT AMENDING SECTIONS 102 (a) (1), (2), (3), 443 (a), 454 (a), 463 (a) AND
478 (a) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO.
8553, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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

Section 1. Section 102 (a) (1), (2), (3) of Republic Act No. 7160, is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“ (a) There shall be established a local health board in every in every province,
city, or municipality. The composition of the local health boards shall be as
follows:

(1) The provincial health board shall be headed by the governor as
chairman, the provincial health officer as vice-chairman, and the
provincial ophthalmologist officer, the chairman of the committee
on health of the sangguniang panlalawigan, a representative from the
private sector or non-government organizations involved in health
services, and a representative of the Department of Health in the
province, as members;

(2) The city health board shall be headed by the city mayor as chairman,
the city health officer as vice-chairman, and the city
ophthalmologist officer, the chairman of the committee on health of
the sangguniang panlungsod, a representative from the private sector
or non-governmental organizations involved in health services, and a
representative of the Department of Health in the city, as members;
and

(3) The municipal health board shall be headed by the municipal mayor
as chairman, the municipal health officer as vice-chairman, and the
municipal ophthalmologist officer. the chairman of the committee
on health of the sangguniang bayan, a representative from the private
sector or non-governmental organization involved in health services,


and a representative of the Department of Health in the municipality,
as members.”

Section 2, Section 443 (a), is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a
municipal vice-mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a
secretary to the sangguniang bayan, a municipal treasurer, a
municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a municipal
budget officer, a municipal planning and development
coordinator, a municipal engineer/building official, a
municipal health officer, a municipal ophthalmologist
officer, and a municipal civil registrar.”

Section 3, Section 454 (a), is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor,
sangguniang panlungsod members, a secretary to the
sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a city
accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and
development coordinator, a city engineer/building official, a
city health officer, a city ophthalmologist officer, a city civil
registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a city
veterinarian, a city social welfare and development officer, and
acity general services officer.”

Section 4. Section 463 (a), is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-
governor, members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, a
secretary to the sangguniang panlalawigan, a provincial
treasurer, a provincial assessor, a provincial accountant, a
provincial budget officer, a provincial planning and
development coordinator, a provincial legal officer, a
provincial administrator, a provincial health officer, a
provincial ophthalmologist officer, a provincial social
welfare and development officer, a provincial general services
officer, a provincial agriculturist, and a _ provincial
veterinarian.”

Section 5. Section 478, is hereby amended to read as follows:
“(@ No person shall be appointed as an ophthalmologist

officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the
local government unit concerned, of good moral character, and


a licensed medical practitioner with a degree specializing in
ophthalmology. He must have acquired experience in the
practice of his profession for at least three (3) years in the case
of the provincial or city ophthalmologist officer, and one (1)
year in the case of the municipal ophthalmologist

(1) The duties of the ophthalmologist officer shall be as
follo

(i) They must diagnose the different eye problems

and come up with the appropriate solutions to

solve the disease;
(ii) They must treat the different eye
disorders effectively and efficiently;
(iii) ‘They must carry out the different eye
exams to ascertain damaged or lost vis
(iv) They have to prescribe medicinal drugs
for curing eye disorders;
(v) They should be aware of the different

eye exercising methods that can help in restoring
the vision of the patients;

(vi) They have to organize and implement
various eye programs for the supporting the
visually impaired and other eye patients; and

(vii) They should coordinate and work with
the health officer assigned to their particular
jurisdiction.”

Section 6. Funding- The funds for the salary of the ophthalmologist officers
shall be taken from the General Appropriations Act, to be determined by the
Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget
and Management.

Section 7. Repealing Clause- All laws, rules, regulations, orders, memoranda
or circulars inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,