HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines Date: 11 ons
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ¥
Quezon City

TINE:
BY:

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session RECMSTPATION UNIT
BILLS AN «NDEX SERVIGE
1387

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Children below six years old are mostly unaware of what a “normal” vision is.
Thus, they are unlikely to complain of vision problems. Since vision is closely linked to a
child’s learning process, undetected learning-related vision problems may lead to
trouble with the student's schoolwork.

Early detection of vision problems is very important and has a considerable
impact on the life of the student. Poor vision in childhood affects performance in school
and may have a negative effect on the future of the child. A vision problem noticed at the
stage of adolescence may lead to more serious eye disorders, like blindness, if left
untreated. Thus, early detection is very important as it will open up a better set of
opportunities for the student.

This bill seeks to establish a national vision screening program for kindergarten
pupils. Vision screening is an efficient and cost-effective method to identify children
with visual impairment or eye conditions. This initiative also aims to create a referral
system in order for visually impaired students to be checked for further evaluation and
treatment.

For these reasons, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

\LFREDO D. VARGAS III


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1387

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas Ill

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 Act’.

Section 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.

Section 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.

Section 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 identify 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;

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

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

Section 5. Program Implementation. - The DepEd shalll 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 a vision screening program;

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

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

(e) Monitoring and evaluate the implementation of the NVSP.

Section 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.



Section 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.

Section 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.

Section 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 on childhood related
eye vision ailments.

Section 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.

Section 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.

Section 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.

Section 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.

Section 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.

Section 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,