THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPIhES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
1 
S .  B. No. sEpAP557 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Visually impaired seniors are more prone to falls, burns, bouts of depression and are 
more likely to need assistance with activities of daily living. Subsequently, they are more likely 
to become reliant on personal care services and costly medical services. By intervening in a 
timely fashion and linking the senior to appropriate services, the State can assist in maintaining 
the senior citizens' health and welfare as well as quality of life. 
This bill seeks to establish a Senior Vision Services program which would provide 
comprehensive services to elderly persons who suffer from functional visual impairments. The 
services would include client assessment, information and referral for health care services, client 
and family counseling and education, and technical assistance for human services agencies 
without experience serving the blind or visually impaired. Elderly persons would be eligible for 
services if they suffered from a visual impairment that substantially interfered with their ability 
to perform routine daily tasks, even if they were not regarded as "legally blind." 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
CREATING A PROGRAM OF SENIOR VISION SERVICES FOR 
ELDERLY PERSONS WITH FUNCTIONAL VISION IMPAIRMENTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Senior Vision Services Act of 
2006“. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, it shall establish a national program of senior 
vision services for elderly persons with functional visual impairments 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term 
(A) 
“Senior vision services” means the provision of non-vocational services to elderly 
persons who have a hctional visual impairment. These services may include, but 
not be limited to, client assessment, information and referral, client and family 
counseling, referrals for opthalmological, optometric or other 
health 
care 
services, technical assistance and training for human services personnel to 
serve persons who are blind or visually impaired, and low vision screening; 
“Functional visual impairment” means an impairment of sight that substantially 
interferes with an elderly person’s ability to perform specific daily living skills 
and tasks. Persons who are not regarded as legally blind, pursuant to this 
(Jj) 


paragraph, but who experience such an impairment of sighl, shall be deemed 
eligible for senior vision services pursuant to this section; 
“Elderly” means an individual over sixty (60) years of age; 
“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
(C) 
@) 
SECTION 4. Senior Vision Services. -There is hereby established a program of senior 
vision services for elderly persons with functional visual impairments. Such program shall be 
under the direction of the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
In providing senior vision services, the Secretary shall take into consideration the lack of 
non-traditional and non-vocational services for elderly persons in need of senior vision services 
and the availability of such senior vision services to establish or to expand existing blind or 
visually impaired services currently provided or available in the region. He or she shall likewise 
ensure that due consideration is given to the geographic and existing service demands for senior 
vision services within a region. 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
promulgation of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
The Secretary shall submit a report to the House of Representatives and the Senate, 
prior to, but in no event later than, December thirty-first, in the year following enactment of this 
Act, and annually thereafier, which shall include, but not be limited to: 
(A) 
(El) 
Financial reports of the project operations established pursuant to this Act; 
An analysis of the project’s ability to provide such senior vision services to 
elderly persons with functional visual impairments; 
(C) 
Recommendations on the continuation of such program and the need for 
program expansion, if appropriate; 
@) 
Other information deemed necessary. 


SECTION 6. Funding for Senior Vision Services. - The funds to be used for the senior 
vision services shall be allocated from the annual appropriations of the Department of Health. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - 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. 
SECTION 8. 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 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
lrgs