HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
pre, 22 AUG 2016

SEVENTEENTH CONGRES: sive SR

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES ©) ~~~
First Regular Session ay:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

UNIT
999 CRVICE
House Bill No. 3222

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE PIA S, CAYETANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Eye disorders or ailments are usually diagnosed and addressed only in the adolescent
or adult stage. But unknown to many, these problems can be detected and resolved at
an early stage with the help of simple diagnostic tests and non-surgical procedures.

Vision screening tests are simple methods used to identify children who have, or are at
risk of, developing eye problems. It is deemed to be more efficient since it can identify
numerous eye problems such as strabismus, cataract, glaucoma, amblyopia and other
refractive errors. It is also cost-effective because instead of undergoing a
comprehensive examination, the student is just required to look at a penlight or
flashlight, or to read a chart specifically made for vision screening

According to the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI), one (1) in twenty (20) pre-
schoolers and one (1) in four (4) school-aged children have an eye problem
Furthermore, more than ten percent (10%) of young children have visual acuity
problems, including errors of refraction (EOR) and amblyopia, even higher than the five
to ten percent (5-10%) of the United States and Europe. Because children cannot, by
themselves, identify that they have eye problems, studies recommend that vision
screening should ideally be conducted for children starting at age three (3)

The Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology likewise emphasizes the importance of
normal eye alignment during infancy and childhood since poor vision at this stage
affects the child’s performance in school, or the way he or she interacts with the
community. Leaving this disorder untreated may lead to more serious eye problems and
sometimes, even blindness,

Among all our senses, the sense of sight is the most abused and neglected. Hence, it is
important that vision screening tests be conducted at an early stage to prevent
complications in the future. This is thus a call for the Department of Health, the
Department of Education and all related institutions to collaborate and establish a
centralized and organized program for vision screening tests.

For the reasons aforementioned, approval of the Bill is urgently sought,

Fa, Capitan

2” District of Taguig City


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

8222

House Bill No, — ~~

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE PIA S. CAYETANO.

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:

on

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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ‘National Vision
Screening Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Article II, 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 address vision
problems, including blindness, among children

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

SEC, 3. Establishment of a National Vision Screening Program. — A National
Vision Screening Program (NVSP) is hereby established under the Department of
Education (DepEd) which is primarily intended to screen the eye vision of
kindergarten pupils.

SEC. 4, Program Objectives. - The objectives of the NVSP are:

(a) To conduct a simple vision screening test on kindergarten pupils through
trained teachers and identify pupils with possible visual problems;

(b) To identity early childhood visual problems;
(©) To provide immediate attention to visually impaired kindergarten pupils

and create a referral system so that they may be checked and treated by
eye care practitioners;


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

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

SEC. 5, Program Implementation. — The DepEd shall lead the implementation of
the NVSP, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine
Eye Research Institute (PERI), which is under the National Institutes of Health of
the University of the Philippines (UP)

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 using a Vision Screening Kit
which includes charts with symbols or numbers, occluders, and transparent
response key: Provided, That the DOH and PERI may recommend to adopt new
modes or methods of vision screening based on the latest trends and
developments;

(b)_ In coordination with the DOH and PERI, shall train and certify teachers
in conducting the vision screening program;

(©)_In consultation with the DOH and PERI, develop a system of referral
and corrective measures for kindergarten pupils who are suspected or diagnosed to
have possible eye ailments;

(4) Create a vision screening database containing the results of the
screening per child and visual conditions diagnosed by the eye care practitioners;
and

(€) Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the NVSP.

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. PhilHealth’s Benefit Package. - The Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PhilHealth) shall develop a benefit package for the consultation and
treatment of eye diseases of children.

SEC. 7. Vision Screening Training. - The PERI shall be mainly responsible for
training of Vision Screening Trainers for purposes of quality assurance. It shall
likewise recommend the appropriate Vision Screening material to be used.

SEC. 8, Research. - The DOH and the PERI shall conduct research and provide
evidence-based recommendations to the DepEd on matters pertaining to the
NVSP. Furthermore, the PERI shall perform continuing research on childhood
related eye vision ailments.


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SEC. 9, 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 or DOH 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. 10. Tax Exemption. — Any donation or bequest made to the DepEd, DOH, or
PERI 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 DepEd,
DOH, or UP

SEC. 11. Appropriations. — The amount currently appropriated in the General
Appropriations Act for related activities under the DepEd and DOH shall be
allocated and utilized for the initial implementation of this Act, Thereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for the NVSP’s implementation, including continuing
research, shall be included under the budget of the DepEd and DOH 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 concemed.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from
the approval of this Act, the DepEd, in consultation with the DOH, PERI and other
participating government agencies, shall formulate the implementing rules and
regulations (IRR) of this Act.

SEC. 13. 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, 14. 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. 15. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,