Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House pitt No. 5190

Introduced by Representative Kimi S$. Cojuangco

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One (1) in twenty (20) preschoolers and one (1) out of every four (4)
school children have an eye problem. This often goes unnoticed, especially
for preschoolers, since they are used to seeing blurred images and would not
complain. Without intervention, children in the carly ages would suffer from
visual impairment. This puts a toll on the quality of learning and the
productivity of our children.

Amblyopia or lazy eye is one of the leading causes of visual
impairment and blindness among children worldwide. Prevalence figures
range from two (2) to five (5) percent of all children. Lazy eye is often caused
by a high degree of disparity in refractive power between the eyes. The
condition is treatable, with a high success rate if done before the age of 7.
‘This declines significantly beyond that age. When the opportunity passes,
amblyopic children most likely end up with permanent visual impairment.
At worst, they can get blind.

It is impossible for ophthalmologists to check every child in the
Philippines. To address the problem, we need a National Vision Screening at
School Entry Program. Vision Screening is a fast and cost-effective means of
checking children’s vision. With the program, we can identify those who
need to be referred to eye care professionals. Governments in many
countries have implemented vision screening programs. It is time that we
have our own.

Consistent with scientific literature, we should make vision screening
mandatory for kindergarten pupils. This way, we are able to identify the
children with lazy eye while we have the opportunity to treat them. By doing
so, we also make the program cost-effective. Collaboration among
stakeholders is crucial, with the Department of Education taking the lead
and school teachers as frontliners. They will be the ones trained to screen
pupils. The cooperation of the Department of Health and the Philippine Eye
Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health, University of the
Philippines Manila is crucial in developing an effective program and in
continuously processing information and conducting research.



Our children deserve good eyesight and a bright future. Hence, the
passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

IMI S./COJYANGCO


CHI BBE

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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5190

Introduced by Hon. Kimi S. Cojuangco

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL VISION SCREENING PROGRAM FOR
KINDERGARTEN PUPILS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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
“National Vision Screening Program Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Article Il, Section
15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, it is hereby declared the policy
of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and
instill health consciousness among them. In line with this policy, the
State shall endeavor to promote every Filipino’s full potential through
good vision by creating ways and means to prevent childhood cases of
avoidable blindness.

Towards this end, the State shall institute a program that will
help screen the school children for any possible visual problems.

SEC. 3. Establishment of a National Vision Screening Program. ~
To be initiated by the Department of Education (DepEd), there is hereby
established a National Vision Screening Program (NVSP) which is
primarily intended to screen the eye vision of kindergarten pupils.

SEC. 4. Program Objectives. The objectives of the NVSP are:
(a) To identify early childhood visual problems;

(b) To provide immediate attention to visually impaired
kindergarten pupils and create a referral system so that they may be
checked and treated by eye specialists;

(c) To develop a vision screening results database for all
kindergarten pupils; and,

(4) To conduct continuing research on the state of visual
impairment among kindergarten pupils.


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SEC. 5. Program Implementation. - The DepEd shall act as the
lead implementing agency for the NVSP, in coordination with the
Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Eye Research Institute
(PERI), National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines —
Manila.

In the implementation of the NVSP, the DepEd shall:

(a) In coordination with the DOH and the PERI, administer the
vision screening program to all public kindergarten pupils, subject to
the written consent from the kindergarten pupils’ parents or legal
guardians;

(b) Develop a system of referral and corrective measures for
kindergarten pupils who are suspected or diagnosed to have eye
ailments;

(©) Create a vision screening database, wherein results of the
screening per child can be found. Visual conditions diagnosed by the
eye specialists shall also be included in the information to be made
available in the DepEd database; and,

The private schools shall be encouraged to adopt their own
system of vision screening for kindergarten pupils enrolled in their
respective schools, subject to standards under the NVSP.

SEC. 6. Quality Assurance. - The DOH and the PERI shall be
vested with technical authority in conducting research and in providing
evidence-based recommendations to the DepEd on matters pertaining
to the NVSP. For purposes of quality assurance, the PERI shall be
authorized as the sole issuer of vision screening materials and shall
likewise be vested with the responsibility to train vision screening
trainers and screeners.

SEC. 7. Monitoring and Continuing Research. — In order to come
up with sound policy recommendations, the DepEd shall be tasked to
monitor and evaluate the implementation of the NVSP whereas the
PERI shall perform continuing research on childhood related eye vision
ailments.

SEC. 8. The Vision Screening Continuing Research Fund. -
‘There is hereby created a Vision Screening Continuing Research (VSCR)
Fund to be sourced from any donation or bequest made to the DepEd
in favor of the NVSP. The VSCR Fund shall be used to fund the PERI
for its continuing research program in connection with childhood
related eye vision ailments.

SEC. 9. Tax Exemption. - Any donation or bequest made to the
DepEd for the NVSP and for the VSCR Fund shall be exempt from
donor’s tax and the same shall be considered allowable deduction from
the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the
National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended: Provided, That
the donation is duly approved by the Secretary of Education.

exegie


SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Education shall
immediately include in the Department's program _ the
operationalization of the NVSP intended for public kindergarten pupils,
the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
‘Appropriations Act.

For kindergarten pupils enrolled in private schools, the funding
needed for the implementation of their respective school’s vision
screening program shall be assumed by the private schools concerned.

The funding needed for the implementation of the training
program for vision screening trainers and screeners, including the
continuing research in connection with childhood related eye vision
issues and concerns, shall be included in the budget of the PERI,
National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines - Manila, in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety
(90) days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in
consultation with the heads of other participating government agencies,
shall formulate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions
of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant to
this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in a
national newspaper of general circulation.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared
shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders and
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 14, Bffectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,