Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, Section 11 provides: 
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 a 
unique language, learning, and communication needs. They need not grow up mute if 
only proper care and attention are 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. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
November 10, 2022
2:54 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – 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 born in hospitals should be screened within first three (3) 
months of life;
(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 newborn hearing screening programs should include a component 
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which ensures linkages to diagnosis and the community system of early 
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. Nationwide 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 newborn 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. 
 
 
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 
treatment/intervention 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 personnel 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 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 each 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. 
 
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,