THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Reguhr Session 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapicl 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
To date, hidden among the 88 million people and the 7100 islands of the Philippines, are 
an estimated more than 600,000 people who are blind, and ma<y more who are visually 
impaired to a lesser degree. By far, the leading cause of blindness among adults in the 
Philippines is cataract, accounting for around 550,000 cases. The treatment for cataract is 
simple and effective but is not readily available or affordable-for those living in the rural areas. 
Studies indicate that 100 children lose their sight every week in the Philippines. Sadly, 
almost half of these cases are either treatable or preventable. Poor nutrition, measles and 
premature birth are among the leading causes of preventable blindness in children in the 
country. Studies further indicate that early detection and treatment can save the sight of most of 
these children, which is why there is an urgent need to improve the skills of our health providers 
so that we can better prevent the occurrence of sight loss and visual impairment problem in the 
country. 
The National Survey of Blindness conducted on June 1995 indicate that the prevalence 
of bilateral blindness in Filipinos is 0.7%, meaning that there are 478,968 out of 68.4 million 
Filipinos who are blind by World Health Organization (WHO) definition or is unable to count 
fingers at 3 meters. This would mean that there are about 616,000 Filipinos today who are blind 
based on the 88 million current population for 2006. 
From a global perspective, many people do not know that every five seconds, one 
person in the world goes blind. Moreover, there are 45 million people all over the world who are 
blind and there are 124 million more people with significant loss of vision. Studies further 
indicate that eighty percent (80%) of blindness incidence in the world is avoidable: twenty 
percent (20%) is preventable and sixty percent (60%) is treatable. Moreover, ninety percent 
(90%) of the world's blind people live in developing countries. Additionally, the WHO estimates 
that the number of blind and visually impaired people in the world will double by 2020 unless 
concerted action is taken by the various countries affected by this problem. 
The loss of sight deprives a person with a wide horizon of opportunities for economic 
undertaking in order to become an economically productive citizen. This situation limits the 
person's mobility and prospects for employment. Moreover, sight loss deprives a person with 
the ability to nurture and nourish the colorful beauty of life and the magnificent existence. 
The restoration of sight and the prevention of blindness, therefore, is a noble endeavor 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
in promoting the holistic health and total well-being of the citizens of this nation. 
'I ; 
/7 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE: PHILIPPINES 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third RegwJar Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
PROVlDlYQ FOR THE ENABLING MECHANISMS FOR THE PREVENTION 
OF SIGH7 AND VlSUAL IMPAIREDNESS IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR 
OTHERPURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
CongreIs assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Blindness 
Prevention Act of 2006". 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to promote the right to health and health consciousness of its people. Towards this end, 
the State shall provide the enabling mechanisms to help promote the prevention of the 
increasing incidence and prevalence of sight loss and visual impairment problem in the 
country. 
SEC. 3. 
Mainstreaming Blindness Prevention in the National Health 
Agenda. - In order to provide an impact in addressing the increasing incidence and 
prevalence of sight loss and visual impairment in the country, the Department of Health 
(DOH), in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD), is hereby tasked to formulate a Strategic Plan, Time-Bound Implementation 
Plan and Action Plan 
which will mainstream the issue of blindness and visual 
impairment prevention in the Long-Term and Medium-Term Health Development Plan of 
the country 
SEC. 4. 
Information, Education and Communication (lEC) Campaign on 
Blindness Prevention. - The DOH, in coordination with the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Council for the Welfare of Children 
(NCWC) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall conduct 
year-round 


information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns against blindness and 
visual impairment problems. 
The year-round information, education and communication (IEC) campaign, shall 
(a) 
guidelines on the various measures in the prevention of sight loss; 
(b) 
the raising public awareness of the importance of vision as a basic human 
the dissemination of publications and other resources on the prevention of 
information on educational initiatives and programs for the prevention of 
the raising of public awareness on the need to-,detect and correct early 
include, among others: 
right; 
(c) 
blindness; 
(d) 
sight loss; and 
(e) 
any visual impairment during childhood development. 
SEC. 5. 
LGU Participation in Community-Based Services. - The local 
government units, in coordination and in cooperation with concerned government 
agencies and non-government organizations, shall provide and implement community- 
based blindness prevention programs and care services to their constituents. 
SEC. 6. 
Annual National Conference on Blindness Prevention. - The 
DOH, in coordination with the DSWD, NCWC and PIA, is hereby mandated to conduct 
an Annual Blindness Prevention National Conference which will be participated by the 
different stakeholders in the health profession, including non-government organizations 
(NGOs) dedicated to preserving and restoring vision of all people in the country. 
The Annual Blindness Prevention National Conference is envisioned to enhance 
the knowledge-sharing capability on the issue of blindness prevention and provide 
greater resources for addressing the increasing incidence and prevalence of sight loss 
in the country. This annual conference will provide the venue for medical experts from 
around the world in sharing available best practice in the prevention and treatment of 
sight impaired patients in the country. 
The conference shall also discuss and review various research and development 
efforts of research institutions and non-government organizations (NGOs) in the 
prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of sight loss problem in the country. 
SEC. 7. 
Blindness Prevention Month. - In order to mainstream the 
program for the prevention of the increasing trend in the incidence and prevalence of 
blindness and sight loss problem in the country, the month of September is hereby 
declared the “Blindness Prevention Month”. 


All educational and health institutions and public offices throughout the country 
are hereby enjoined to give their support to the celebration of Blindness Prevention 
Month by conducting their respective activities with the active participation of all their 
students and workers. 
SEC. 8. 
Implementation of the Blindness Prevention Month. - To ensure 
the significant impact on the implementation of the Blindness Prevention Month, the 
Department of Health (DOH) is hereby mandated to spearhead, as far as practicable, 
the conduct of simultaneous activities and programs in all provinces during the month 
long celebration. 
For this purpose, the DOH is hereby tasked to implement programs which will: 
(a) 
and goals; 
(b) 
determine any related abnormalities in all of its health service delivery points; 
include the prevention of blindness in national health development plans 
provide visual screening, subjective and objective eye examinations to 
integrate the prevention of blindness program into the primary health care 
(c) 
programs of the government; 
(d) 
formulate effective coordination measures to empower local government 
units to deal with the cataract backlog among their constituents; 
(e) 
develop and strengthen eye care services and integrate them in the 
existing health care system of the government, including training and re-training of 
health workers in visual health, training of ophthalmologists, training of paramedical 
staff, and the provision for technology and infrastructure necessary to provide eye care; 
and 
(f) 
make available the essential medicines and supplies needed for the 
prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of preventable visual impairment problems in 
the country 
SEC. 9. 
Monitoring Program. - A comprehensive blindness prevention 
monitoring program shall be established under the Department of Health to determine 
and monitor the magnitude and prevalence of visual impairment and blindness problem 
in the Philippines, and for the purpose of evaluating the adequacy and efficacy of the 
program interventions being implemented by the government. 
SEC. I O .  
Annual Appropriation. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall 
include in its annual programming and annual appropriation the amount necessary to 
fully implement the objectives of this Act. 


SEC. 11. 
Implementing Rules and .Regulations (IRR). - Within three (3) 
months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health (DOH), in 
coordination with the Department of Social Wlelfare and Development (DSWD) and 
concerned non-government organizations involved in blindness prevention, shall 
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 12. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 13. 
Separability C h s e .  - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 14. 
fflecfivity 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,