FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
19 
1\11 :03. 
SENY~40 
S. No. ___ 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Vision loss can, especially without appropriate rehabilitation and skills training, 
significantly impact an individual's ability to conduct activities of daily living, as well as 
developmental learning, communicating, working, health, and quality oflife. While it is believed 
that half of all blindness can be prevented, the number of Filipinos who are blind or visually 
impaired is expected to double by 2030. One in twenty preschoolers experience visual 
impairment which, if unaddressed, can affect learning ability, personality, and adjustment in 
school. 
Vision rehabilitation helps people with vision loss to live safely and independently at 
home and in the community, reduce medication errors, cook and perform other daily activities 
reliably, and avoid accidents which may lead to injury or even the onset of additional disabilities, 
especially among older persons living with vision loss. 
Greater efforts must be made at the national and local levels to increase awareness of 
vision loss and its causes, its impact, the importance of early diagnosis, treatment, and 
rehabilitation, and effective prevention strategies . 
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This Act intends to establish a full-scale integrated public health strategy to 
comprehensively address vision loss and its causes that, at a minimum, includes the following: 
communication and education, surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention research, and 
programs, policies, and systems change. 1 
I This bill was originally filed in the Fomieenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
1 [) 
JUL 19 
1111 :03 
SEN1\.TE 
S. No. 
Ib40 
til 
IliECf.IVlEtHw .. t----
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH HEALTH PROGRAMS 
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TO PREVENT VISION LOSS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Vision Preservation Act." 
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SECION 2. Preventive Health Measures with Respect to Vision Loss. 
lOA. Communication and Education-
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1. In General - The Secretary of Health acting through the National Center for 
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Disease Prevention and Control and the Degenerative Disease Office, shall expand 
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and intensify programs to increase awareness of vision problems, including 
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awareness of the following: 
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a. the impact of vision problems; and 
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b. the importance of early diagnosis, management, and effective prevention and 
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rehabilitation strategies. 
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2. Activities - In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may--
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a. conduct public service announcements and education campaigns; 
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b. enter into partnership~ with eye-health professional organizations and other 
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vision-related organizations; 
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c. conduct community disease prevention campaigns; 
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d. conduct testing, evaluation, and model training for vision screeners based on 
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scientific studies; and 
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e. evaluate strategies to reduce barriers to access to treatment by optometrists and 
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ophthalmologists. 
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3. Evaluation - In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall -
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a. establish appropriate measurements for public awareness of vision problems; 
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b.establish appropriate measurements to determine the effectiveness of existing 
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campaigns to increase awareness of vision problems; 
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c. establish quantitative benchmarks for determining the effectiveness of activities 
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carried out under this subsection; and 
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d. not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this section, submit a 
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report to the Congress on the results achieved through such activities. 
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B. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Health Services Research -
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1. In General - The Secretary shall expand and intensify activities to establish a solid 
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scientific base of knowledge on the prevention, control, and rehabilitation of vision 
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problems and related disabilities. 
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2. Activities - In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may--
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a. create a national ongoing surveillance system; 
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b. identify and test screening modalities; 
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c. evaluate strategies to reduce barriers to access to treatment by optometrists, 
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ophthalmologists,and other vision rehabilitation professionals; 
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d. evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of current and future interventions 
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and community strategies; and 
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e. update and improve knowledge about the true costs of vision problems and 
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related disabilities. 
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C. Programs, Policies, and Systems-
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I. In General - The Secretary shall expand and intensify research within the Center 
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for Disease Prevention and Control on the prevention and management of vision 
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loss. 
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2. Activities - In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may--
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a. build partnerships with voluntary health organizations, nonprofit vision 
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rehabilitation agencies, and local public health agencies, eye-health professional 
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organizations, and organizations with an interest in vision issues; 
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b.work with health care systems to better address vision problems and associated 
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disabilities; and 
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c. award grants for community outreach regarding vision loss to health care 
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institutions and national vision organizations with broad community presence. 
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SECTION 3. Prevention and Treatment of Underserved, Minority, and other 
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Populations. - The Secretary of Health shall likewise institute the following: 
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A. Expansion and Intensification of Vision Programs - The Secretary shall expand and 
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intensify programs targeted to prevent vision loss, treat eye and vision conditions, and 
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rehabilitate people of all ages who are blind or partially sighted in underserved and 
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minority communities, including the following: 
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1. Vision care services at community health centers receiving assistance 
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2. Vision rehabilitation programs at vision rehabilitation agencies, eye clinics, and 
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hospitals. 
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B. Voluntary Guidelines for Vision Screening- The Secretary, in consultation with eye-
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health professional organizations and other vision-related organizations, shall develop 
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voluntary guidelines to ensure the quality of vision screening and appropriate referral for 
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comprehensive eye examinations and subsequent vision rehabilitation services. 
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SECTION 4. Vision Rehabilitation Professional Development Grants. - The Secretary of 
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Health may make grants to eligible institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations for 
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the purpose of activities described in Section (2) (C) (2) (a) relating to vision rehabilitation 
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professional development. 
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A. Use of Funds - - The Secretary may not make a grant to an institution of higher 
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education or a nonprofit organization under this section unless the institution or 
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organization agrees to use the grant for the following: 
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1. Developing and offering preparatory and continuing education training 
opportunities (incorporating state-of-the-art approaches, technologies, and 
therapies to meet the unique needs of older adults with vision loss) in -
a. geriatrics among vision rehabilitation professionals, including professionals in 
the vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mobility, and low vision 
therapy fields; and 
b. vision rehabilitation among occupational therapists and others m related 
rehabilitation and health disciplines. 
2. Conducting, and disseminating the findings and conclusions of, research on the 
effectiveness of preparatory and continuing education training under paragraph 
(I ). 
3. Developing and disseminating interdisciplinary course curricula for use in the 
preparation of new professionals in vision rehabilitation, occupational therapy, 
and related rehabilitation and health disciplines. 
4. Educating physicians, nurses, and other health care providers about the value of 
vision rehabilitation, to increase appropriate referral by such professionals for the 
full range of vision rehabilitation services available to older individuals with 
vision loss. 
B. Eligibility- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be a 
university, academic medical center, national or regional nonprofit organization, 
community rehabilitation provider, or allied health education program, or a consortium of 
such entities, that -
1. offers or coordinates education or training activities among professionals 
described in subsection (A)(I); or 
2. agrees to use the grant to expand its capacity to coordinate such activities. 
C. Distribution of Grants- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall 
ensure that grantees offer or coordinate training for current and emerging professionals -
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I. from a variety of geographic regions and a range of different types and sizes of 
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settings and facilities, including settings and facilities located in rural, urban, and 
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suburban areas; and 
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2. serving a variety of populations of older individuals with vision loss, including 
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racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and other underserved 
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populations. 
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D. Application- To seek a grant'under this section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary 
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an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
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Secretary may require. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and SUbsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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orders, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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