Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPR| ‘ATIVES
H.B. No,

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article 13, provides:

Section 11. 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 underprivileged sick, disabled,

elderly, women and children, The State shall endeavor to provide free medical
care to paupers.

‘There is a need to increase the awareness of the general public on the welfare of the
deaf. They are a vital segment of our society and a significant force in the efforts for national

development.

Studies show that infants, toddlers, and children, who are deaf or hard-of-hearing,
have unique language, learning, and communication needs. They need not grow up mute, if

only proper care and attention is given.

This bill seeks to establish a comprehensive program regarding early detection,
diagnosis, and interventions for newborns with hearing loss. Through the program, the State


can effectively provide special care and training for their rehabilitation and subsequent
integration into the mainstream of society.” q

H. HARRY L. ROQUE JR.

* This bill was originally filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the Sixteenth Congress, First
Regular Session


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. No.

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING PROGRAMS REGARDING EARLY HEARING LOSS DETECTION,
DIAGNOSIS, AND INTERVENTION FOR NEWBORNS AND INFANTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and the Howse of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Tile. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Early Hearing Loss

Detection, Diagnosis, and Intervention Act.”

SECTION 2. Purposes. — the purposes of this Act are to authorize nationwide early
detection, diagnosis, referral, and intervention networks, technical assistance, national applied
research program, and inter-agency and private sector collaboration for policy development,
in order to assist in making progress toward the following goals:

(A) _ All babies born in hospitals in the Philippines should be screened for hearing
loss before leaving the hospital (unless the parents of the children object to the screening);

(B) Babies who are not bor in hospitals should be screened within first three (3)

months of life,


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(C) Diagnostic audiologic testing, if indicated, should be performed in a timely
manner to allow appropriate referral for treatment/intervention before the age of six (6)
months,

(D) All universal _newbom hearing screening programs should include a
component which ensures linkages to diagnosis and the community system of carly
intervention services, and

(E) Public policy in early hearing detection, diagnosis, and intervention should be
based on applied research and the recognition that infants, toddlers, and children who are deaf
or hard-of ~hearing have unique language, learning, and communication needs, and should be
the result of consultation with pertinent public and private sectors.

SECTION 3. Natiomwide Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Intervention Networks. —
The Secretary of Health shall make awards of grants or cooperative agreements to develop
nationwide early detection, diagnosis, and intervention networks for the following purposes

(A) To develop State capacity to support newbom hearing loss detection,
diagnosis, and intervention;

(B) To monitor the extent to which hearing detection is conducted in birthing
hospitals throughout the country, and assist in the development of universal newborn hearing
detection programs in birthing hospitals and non-hospitals birthing sites;

(C) To develop models which ensure effective screening, referral, and linkage
with appropriate diagnostic, medical, and qualified early intervention services, providers, and
programs within the community; and

(D) To collect data on early detection, diagnosis, and intervention that can be used
for applied research and policy development.


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SECTION 4. Technical Assistance, Data Management, and Applied Research. ~ The
Secretary shall make awards of grants or cooperative agreements to provide technical
assistance to agencies to complement an intramural program and to conduct applied research
related to infant hearing detection, diagnosis, and treatment/intervention. The program shall
carry out the following:

(A) Provide technical assistance on data collection and management,

(B) Develop standardized procedures for data management to ensure quality
monitoring of infant hearing loss detection, diagnosis, and intervention programs;

(C) Study the costs and effectiveness of hearing detection conducted by programs
in order to answer issues of importance to policymakers,

(D) Identify the causes and risk factors for congenital hearing loss that might lead
to the development of preventive interventions;

(E) Study the effectiveness of early hearing detection, diagnosis, and
treatmenvintervention programs by assessing the health, developmental, cognitive, and
language status of these children at school age; and

(F) Promote the sharing of data regarding early hearing loss with birth defects and
developmental disabilities monitoring programs for the purpose of identifying previously
unknown causes of hearing loss.

SECTION 5. Coordination and Collaboration.

(A) In General. — in carrying out programs under this Act, the Department of
Health shall coordinate with consumer groups serving individuals who are deaf and hard-of-
hearing; persons who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and their families; qualified professional
personne! who are proficient in deaf or hard-of-hearing children’s language and who possess
the specialized knowledge, skills, and attributes needed to serve deaf and hard-of ~hearing


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infants, toddlers, children, and their families; other health and education professionals and
organizations; third party payers and managed care organizations; and related commercial
industries.

(B) Policy Development. — The department shall coordinate and collaborate on
recommendations for policy development with the private sector, including consumer and
professional based organizations, with respect to early hearing detection, diagnosis, and
treatment/intervention.

SECTION 6. Authorization of Appropriations

(A) Nationwide Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Intervention Networks. ~ For the
purpose of carrying out this act, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of
Health, Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) for the current fiscal year, Twenty Million Pesos
(P20,000,000.00) for the next fiscal year, and such sums as may be necessary for cach of the
succeeding fiscal years.

(B) Technical Assistance, Data Management, and Applied Research-Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. — For the purpose of carrying out this act, there are
authorized to be appropriated Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) for the current fiscal year,
Seven Million Pesos (P7,000,000.00) for the next fiscal year, and such sums may be
necessary for each of the succeeding fiscal years.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain

valid and subsisting


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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative 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 newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,