THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Eighty percent (80%) of what children learn is acquired through the visual processing of 
information. 
Visual impairment is one of the ten (1 0) most common causes of disability in America. In 
children, visual impairment is associated with developmental delays and the need for special 
education, vocational, and social services. At least twenty percent (20%) of children with 
learning disabilities have been found to have prominent visual information processing problems. 
This bill aims to provide comprehensive eye examinations for children identified or 
considered at high risk of vision impairment. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
I 
19 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
- 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EYE 
EXAMINATIONS TO CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives ofthe Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Children’s Vision 
Improvement and Learning Rcadiness Act of 2005.” 
SECTION 2. Definition ofTerms. -As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
(1) “Secretary” -refers to the Secretary of Health; 
(2) “Comprehensive eye examination” - 
refers to an assessment of a patient’s history, 
general medical observation, external. and ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity, 
ocular alignment and motility, refraction, and as appropriate, binocular vision or gross 
visual fields, performed by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. 
SECTION 3. Grants Regarding Comprehensive Eye Examinations For Children. - 
(a) IN GENERAL. - 
The Secretary may make grants to cities and municipalities for the 
purpose of: 
(i) providing comprehensive eye examinations for children identified or 
considered at high risk of vision impairment, with priority given to school-based 
programs for children who are under the age of nine (9); 


(ii) providing subsequent treatment or services necessary to correct vision 
problems; and 
(iii) developing and disseminating, to parents, teachers, health care practitioners, 
and the public, educational materials on recognizing signs of visual impairment in 
children, and the State's vision improvement initiatives. 
(b) CRITERIA AND COORDINATION. - 
(i) CRITERIA. - 
The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate professional 
and consumer organizations including individuals with knowledge of age 
appropriate vision services, shall develop criteria - 
(aa) governing the operation of the grant program; and 
(bb) for the collection of data related to vision assessment and the utilization of 
follow up services. 
(c) APPLICATION. - 
A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if an application 
for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application is in such form, is made in 
such manner, and contains such information as the Secretary may require, including - 
(i) information on existing government-funded children's vision screening 
programs; 
(ii) a plan for the use of grant funds, including how funds will be used to 
compliment existing country's efforts; 
(iii) a plan to determine if a grant eligible child has received an age appropriate 
vision screening; and 
(iv) a description of how funds will be used to provide items or services only as a 
secondary payer to - 
(aa) any government compensation program, under an insurance policy, or 
under any government health benefits program; or 
(bb) by any entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis. 


. 
- 
(d) EVALUATIONS. - A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if the 
municipality involved agrees that, not later than one (1) year after the date on which 
amounts under the grant are first received by the municipality, and annually thereafter 
while receiving amounts under the grant, the municipality will submit to the Secretary an 
evaluation of the operations and activities carried out under the grant, including - 
(i) an assessment of the utilization of vision services and the status of children 
receiving these services as a result of the activities carried out under the grant; 
(ii) the collection, analysis, and reporting of children's vision data according to 
guidelines prescribed by the Secretary; and 
(iii) such other information as the Secretary may require. 
SECTION 4. Authorization ofAppropriations. - 
For the purpose of carrying out this 
Act, such sums as may be deemed appropriate by the Secretary are hereby authorized to be 
appropriated from the National Treasury. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - 
If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not othenvise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,