1 ‘  
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
Second Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
1 
9 FiB 2b Pr ‘10 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 13, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
undertake appropriate health manpower development and research, responsive to the 
country’s health needs and problems. 
In line with this vision, one of the areas which needs comprehensive research, 
study and information dissemination 
campaign is the disease called “amblyopia”. 
Amblyopia, as manifested in the decrease in visual acuity, is a health problem that 
develops early in life during the critical period of visual development. Amblyopia, often 
called “lazy eye,” is a decrease in visual acuity resulting from abnormal visual 
development in infancy and early childhood. The vision loss in amblyopia ranges from 
mild (worse than 20/25) to severe (legal blindness, 20/200 or worse). Although generally 
unilateral, amblyopia may affect both eyes. It is the most common cause of monocular 
vision loss in children and young adults. It is caused by any abnormal visual experience 
early in life due to strabismus (squint), uncorrected refractive error or visual deprivation. 
Medical experts submit that early recognition of amblyogenic risk factors such as 
strabismus, refractive errors, and anatomic obstructions can facilitate the early 
treatment and increase the chance of recovery of visual acuity. Early recognition and 
prompt referral are crucial, especially during infancy and childhood, to prevent 
permanent loss of vision. Various medical experts endorse screening for visual 
abnormalities in children and young adults, yet this procedure is not being included in 
the new born screening procedures being promoted by the Department of Health (DOH) 
and implemented by the various health service delivery system in our country. 
Amblyopia, depending on the severity, may be reversible if the underlying causes are 
identified and amblyopia treatment is started early. 
This proposed measure seeks to provide a comprehensive program for health 
research on the disease called “amblyopia” and provide a national comprehensive 
information and education drive to inform the general public of the disorder. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
I . 
MANUEL ‘LITO” M. LAPID 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CohIGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
Second Regular Session 
) 
9 FEB 24 F‘C :It 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON 
AMBLYOPIA AND REQUIRING THE MANDATORY INCLUSION OF 
VISUAL SCREENING TESTS ON AMBLYOPIA IN THE NATIONAL 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9288, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE YNEWBORN 
SCREENING ACT OF 2004” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
NEWBORN SCREENING COVERAGE, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Amblyopia Act of 2009.” 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ”Mainstreaming 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to protect and promote the right to health of the people to full, healthy and holistic 
development and the right to self-determination. As such, the State shall promote an 
environment conducive to the development of all its citizens to become, to the best of 
their potentials, independent, self-reliant and productive members of society. 
Towards this end, the State commits itself to the establishment of institutional 
mechanisms to provide a comprehensive information, education and communication 
campaign on Amblyopia in order to address this health concern. 
In pursuit of such policy, the State shall also institutionalize the inclusion of visual 
screening test of amblyopia in its national newborn screening system in order to 
proactively address said disease. 
SEC. 3. 
Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
“Amblyopia”, is a health problem that develops early in life during the 
critical period of visual development. Amblyopia, often called “lazy eye,” is a decrease 
shall be defined as follows: 
(a) 


in visual acuity resulting from abnormal visual development in infancy and early 
childhood. The vision loss in amblyopia ranges from mild (worse than 20/25) to severe 
(legal blindness, 20/200 or worse). Although generally unilateral, amblyopia may affect 
both eyes. It is the most common cause of monocular vision loss in children and young 
adults. It is caused by any abnormal visual experience early in life due to strabismus 
(squint), uncorrected refractive error or visual deprivation. 
(b) 
(c) 
“Deparfment”shall refer to the Department of Health; 
“Secretary”shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
SEC. 4. 
Section 4 (1) of Republic Act No. 9288, otherwise known as the 
“Newborn Screening Act of 2004” is hereby amended to read as follows: 
1) Comprehensive Newborn Screening System means a newborn 
screening system that includes, but is not limited to, education of relevant 
stakeholders; collection and biochemical screening of blood samples 
taken from newborns; PROVISION OF VISUAL SCREENING 
TESTS ON AMBLYOPIA; tracking and confirmatory testing to ensure 
the 
accuracy 
of 
screening 
results; 
clinical 
evaluation 
and 
biochemicallmedical 
confirmation 
of 
test 
results; 
drugs 
and 
medicallsurgical management and dietary supplementation to address the 
heritable conditions; and evaluation activities to assess long term 
outcome, patient compliance and quality assurance. 
SEC. 5. 
Comprehensive Research on Amblyopia. - The Secretary of the 
Department of Health is hereby mandated to conduct a comprehensive research and 
information drive on the incidence of Amblyopia in the country. The Department is also 
mandated to support medical and epidemiological research activities to expand the 
knowledge and understanding of the said disorder in the country. 
The Department is mandated to strenghten its research focus concerning 
Amblyopia, including a renewed investment into basic and clinical research, expanded 
research into the link between environmental factors and the disease, and continued 
investigations into causation, diagnosis, early detection and treatment for the same. 
Such factors that will be studied shall also include, among others, hormones and 
reproductive factors, genetic factors, socio-demographic factors, and others. 
SEC. 6. 
Appropriations. - 
The funds necessary to implement the 
provisions of this Act shall be incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the 
Department of Health. 


SEC. 7. 
Separability t%use - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 8. 
Repealling Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provision of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 9. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,