Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
|9th Congress
First Regular Session
HouseBi||No.               5294
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Introduced by HONORABLE PETER 8. MIGUEL
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AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT TO GIVE
FREE HEARING AID TO DEAF 0R HEARING-IMPAIRED INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Remaining  true  to  its  mandate  of  providing  programs  and  services  to  vulnerable  sectors  of
society,  such  as  persons  with  disability,  the  Department  of Social  Welfare  and  Development
(DSWD)  is mandated to give free assistive devices, such as hearing aid for the deaf or hearing
impaired indigent individuals, for each DSWD Field Office every  year,  starting this year.
The  person with disability sector is among the most affected by the declaration of community
quarantine brought about by the spread of COVID-19 in the country. To help them  regain  and
develop  their  self and  social  enhancement,  the  DSWD,  through  its  Field  Offices  will  provide
augmentation   support  for  the   assistive   devices  for  deaf/hearing   impaired   and   physically
challenged individuals.
These devices may include hearing aids with beam forming technology, customized headphones,
and Cochlear implant for deaf and hearing impaired.
This bill hopes that through these assistive devices, the persons with disability will continue to be
productive and contributing members of society, despite their disability, in these critical times.
The right of the deaf or hearing impaired individuals to have access to these assistive devices take
paramount consideration, hence the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought for.
Representative, 2nd District South Cotabato


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
|9th Congress
First Regular Session
House Bill No.               5294
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Introduced by HONORABLE PETER 8. MIGUEL
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AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT 0F SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT TO GIVE
FREE HEARING AID TO DEAF OR HEARING-IMPAIRED INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF
Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:
Secti.on I..          Short Ti[/e.. This Act shall be known as ``The Free Hearing Aid Act of 2022."
Section 2:         Mandate of Department of social welfare and Development: The Department of
Social  Welfare  and  Development  shall  continue  with  its  mandate  of  providing
programs  and  services  to  vulnerable  sectors  of society,  such  as  persons  with
disability.   Accordingly,  the   Department  of  Social   Welfare   and   Development
(DSWD)  is  mandated  to  give  assistive  devices,  such  as  hearing  aid  for  deaf or
hearing-impaired indigents, for each DSWD Field Office every year.
Section 3:
Deaf or Hearing Impaired Indigent Individual: For purposes Of Thiis A:ct, a "Deaf or
Hearing-Impaired Indigent Individual" is a person who is deaf -people who have
profound hearing loss, which implies very little or no hearing or those people with
hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. People who could hardly communicate
through spoken  language and  can  benefit from  hearing aids,  cochlear implants,
and other assistive devices. In addition from being deaf or hearing-impaired, these
individuals have no visible means of income, or whose income is insufficient for
family  subsistence,   as   identified   by  the   Department   of  Social   Welfare   and
Development  (DSWD),  based  on  specific  criteria.  All  indigents  identified  by the
DSWD   under  the   National   Household   Targeting  System   (NHTS)   for   Poverty
Reduction  and  other such  acceptable  methods,  shall  automatically  be  enrolled
and covered under this Act.


Section 4:
Section 5:
Section 6:
Section 7:
APPROVED.
Ru/es  and  Regu/oti.ons..  The  Department  of  Social  Welfare  and  Development
(DSWD)   shall   have   the   authority   to   promulgate   the   necessary   rules   and
regulations for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
Apprapri.oti.ons.. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall
be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment
into Law and thereafter.
Repeo/7.ng C/ouse.. All  laws, decrees,  rules and  regulations inconsistent with this
Act shall be deemed amended or repealed accordingly.
E#ec£I.v/.fy a/ouse.. This Act shall take effect after its complete publication  in the
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.