Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EYE 
EXAMINATIONS TO CHILDREN  
Eighty percent (80%) of what children learn is acquired through the visual processing 
of information. 
Visual impairment is one of the ten (10) most common causes of disability in America. 
In children, visual impairment is associated with developmental delays and the need 
for special education, vocational, and social services. At least twenty percent (20%) of 
children with learning disabilities have been found to have prominent visual 
information processing problems. 
This bill aims to provide comprehensive eye examinations for children identified or 
considered at high risk of vision impairment. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
9101
March 23, 2021
1:13 PM


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH 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: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Children's Vision 
Improvement and Learning Readiness Act.” 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
(A) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health;
(B) “Comprehensive eye examination” means an assessment of a patient's 
history, general medical observation, external and ophthalmoscopic examination, 
visual acuity, ocular alignment and motility, refraction, and as appropriate, 
binocular vision or gross visual fields, performed by an optometrist or an 
ophthalmologist.
SECTION 3. Grants Regarding Comprehensive Eye Examinations for Children. – 
(A) In General. – The Secretary may make grants to cities and municipalities for the 
purpose of:
(1) Providing comprehensive eye examinations for children identified or 
considered at high risk of vision impairment, with priority given to school-based 
programs for children who are under the age of nine (9); 
(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 
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(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, is 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 grant, the municipality will submit to the Secretary an 
evaluation of the operations and activities carried out under the grant, including – 
(1) An assessment of the utilization of vision services and the status of children 
receiving these services as a result of the activities carried out under the grant;  
(2) The collection, analysis, and reporting of children's vision data according to 
guidelines prescribed by the Secretary; and  
(3) Such other information as the Secretary may require. 
 
SECTION 4. Authorization of Appropriations. – For the purpose of carrying out this 
Act, such sums as may be deemed appropriate by the Secretary are hereby 
authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,