REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

Hoese Bill No. 7665

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Il, Section 15 and Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides for the
promotion and protection of the right to health of the people, as well as the State’s mandate to adopt
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development.

However, despite such mandates, there remains glaring deficiencies in the strategies
‘employed to combat a plethora of public health issues, among which is the high incidence of vision
defects and abnormalities. _ In 2017, the DOH has reported that over 2 million people across the
country are blind or suffering from some kind of visual impairment. Specifically, an estimated 332,
150 Filipinos are bilaterally blind, while the current number of persons with bilateral low vision is
at 2,179,733. Of the total number of bilaterally blind, 33 percent or about 109,609 cases were duc to
cataract, while 25 percent was caused by error in refraction. 14 percent was duc to glaucoma.

‘As such, this proposed measure seeks to establish a National Sight Strategy that shall
provide for a comprehensive national plan to combat the prevalence of vision impairment. It
provides a framework for the effective use and distribution of resources, prioritizes the collection
and dissemination of all relevant data, promotes the practice of eye care professionals, and permits
the use of public facilities for a more accessible vision care service system.

‘The eye is the mirror with which we experience the world, without it, one’s life would be
deprived of the joy of seeing the world’s splendid colors, its friendly smiles, and the familiar faces
with whom we find so much to love. Nobody, not if it is fully preventable, has to suffer such
impairment, and the State being the guarantors of its people’s health and well-being, must do all
that it can in its power to secure to its people a vision that shall pierce through a brighter future.

In view of the foregoing, passage of thi

bill is eamestly sought.

IC. ALEJANO
Representative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No._'7665

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
‘TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL SIGHT STRATEGY PLAN

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

SECTION 1. Title.—This Act shall be known as the National Sight Strategy Plan.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.—The physical well-being of the citizenry, including their
vision health, is a primary concer of the State. The role of vision care professionals and providers,
including ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians, in safeguarding and enhancing the vision
health of Filipinos, including preventing blindness, is recognized and shall be strengthened.

SEC. 3. National Sight Strategy.—

a. The Department of Health (DOH), within one year from the effectivity of this Act
and in consultation with all stakeholders in the field of vision care, shall formulate a
National Sight Strategy that shall address the following:

1. The collection, collation, organization and publication of data and statistics

on the incidence and prevalence of vision abnormalities such as blindness,

errors of refraction, and common eye diseases, and the causes of such
medical conditions.

2. The formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national strategy
to address vision health issues including the prevention and treatment of
blindness and visual defects, deployment of personnel, allocation of public
resources, and public education to increase awareness of the importance of
protecting and improving vision health at all ages.

3. The promotion and development, in the underserved areas in the country,
of the study and practice of vision health related professionals such as


4. The undertaking of studies and consultation to formulate recommendations
on the inclusion of vision care services in national health programs such as
PhilHealth.

b. As part of the National Sight Strategy, all national and local govemment
healthcare facilities such as hospitals, medical centers, and clinics, shall be made available for
the establishment of eye care clinics or centers where eye care professionals can provide ready

access to quality vision care, especially to those who could not otherwise afford them.

SEC. 4. Appropriations. —The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act
shall be charged against the available appropriations of the DOH under the current General

ations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Reporting. —DOH shall submit, upon completion, the National Sight Strategy Plans
to the Senate and the House of Representatives.

SEC. 6. Repeating Clause.— All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause—Should any provision herein be declared unconstitutional,
the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,