Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND 
DEVELOPMENT TO GIVE FREE HEARING AID TO DEAF OR HEARING-
IMPAIRED INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sec. 15, Art. II of the 1987 Constitution states that “The State shall protect and promote 
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” 
In the Philippines, around 121,000 Filipinos are Deaf.1 Often, the Hearing might not be 
conscious of them or their experiences but it doesn’t mean that they do not exist. In 
fact, in the face of current events and changes going on in the country, it’s important 
now more than ever to understand and work with various sectors, including the Deaf 
population.  
The Philippines is known as one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world, at 
least tropical cyclones throughout the summer, Deaf people are also more likely to die 
in disaster situations than their hearing counterparts.2 They are unable to speak with 
emergency medical services provided and there does not seem to be an emergency 
medical service specifically for Deaf Filipinos. 
This bill aims to provide free hearing aid to deaf or hearing-impaired indigent 
individuals. The bill aims to help indigent deaf Filipinos to become productive citizens. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
1 https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2018/10/29/Filipino-Sign-Language.html 
2 https://www.rappler.com/moveph/98514-deaf-blind-challenges-disasters/ 
January 16, 2023
1:33 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF 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: 
Section 1: Short Title: This Act shall be known as ``The Free Hearing Aid Act." 
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 This Act, 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: Rules and Regulations: 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. 
Section 5: Appropriations:  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. 
Section 6: Repealing Clause: All laws, decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent with this 
Act shall be deemed amended or repealed accordingly. 
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Section 7: Effectivity Clause: This Act shall take effect after its complete publication in the 
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
APPROVED