OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
consciousness among them. 
Age-related Macular Degeneration - or AMD - is an eye disease that 
causes loss of central vision, leaving only peripheral, or side, vision intact. It 
affects the macula, the part of the eye that is utilized when one is reading, 
aiming, following moving objects or any other activity where clear and sharp 
vision is required. Although AMD causes no pain to the patient, it will result in 
visual loss and legal blindness among the elderly if left untreated. It is the 
leading cause of visual loss among people aged 60 and above, and one of the 
top 10 causes of disability among the elderly worldwide. 
The greatest risk factor of AMD is age. Although AMD may occur during 
middle age, studies show that people over age 60 are clearly at greater risk than 
other age groups. Other risk factors include smoking, obesity, diet, and pollution 
Although age poses the greatest risk factor in the determination of AMD, 
many Filipinos believe that with ageing follows vision loss and that the same is 
incurable. As such, there is a need to provide an information, education and 
communication (IEC) campaign to educate the general public on the benefits of 
availing comprehensive eye examination for AMD. 
By passing this piece of legislation, our government recognizes the daily 
plight of our hundreds of families struggling every day with family members 
suffering from vision loss due to AMD, and once and for all acknowledges it as a 
health issue in the country. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought 
Senator 
P 


OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
... 
Y 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL PROGRAM TO 
MITIGATE 
AND 
COMBAT 
AGE-RELATED 
MACULAR 
DEGENERATION, IMPLEMENTING A NATIONWIDE INFORMATION, 
EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Tjtle. - This Act shall be known as the 
"Comprehensive Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention and 
Mitigation Act of 2009". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people. 
Towards this end, the State commits itself to the establishment of 
institutional and social mechanisms to support persons with Age-related Macular 
Degeneration. It shall institutionalize a comprehensive national to mitigate and 
combat Age-related Macular Degeneration for purposes of empowering and 
providing them quality of life. 
SEC. 3. Annual Survey Programs. - The National Institute of Health 
(NIH) of the Department of Health (DOH) is hereby mandated to conduct an 
annual survey program to determine the extent and total incidence and 
prevalence of persons with Age-related Macular Degeneration in order to provide 
necessary health interventions to address the needs faced by persons with Age- 
related Macular Degeneration. 
1 


The NHI shall carry out a program to expand and intensify research to 
develop innovative advanced technologies to Age-related Macular Degeneration 
detection, diagnosis, and treatment comparable to state-of-the-art technologies. 
SEC. 
4. National Program for Age-relafed Macular Degeneration 
Awareness, Education, Prevention and Rehabilitation. - The DOH is hereby 
mandated to implement a comprehensive and nationwide program on Age- 
related 
Macular 
Degeneration 
awareness, 
education, 
prevention 
and 
rehabilitation. 
Towards this end, the DOH is hereby mandated to implement the 
following objectives: 
a) 
to promote public awareness, education and information on issues 
concerning the medical condition; 
b) to establish sustainable networks of support group for families of persons 
inflicted with the medical condition; 
c) to provide referral services to patients and identify appropriate educational 
and medical expertise and facilities suited to the needs of the patients; 
d) to combat the spectrum of disorders related to the condition through 
education, early intervention, prompt referrals for treatment and services; 
e) to undertake research and/or collaborate with other entities on research 
activities regarding Age-related Macular Degeneration; 
9 
to receive donations and grants from local and international donor 
institutions, foundations, and multilateral and bilateral foreign donor agencies 
involved in the prevention, cure and rehabilitation of persons with Age-related 
Macular Degeneration; 
g) to provide the avenue for exchange of information, exchange programs 
and sharing of best practices on issues relating to the early detection, 
prevention, cure, treatment and rehabilitation of persons with Age-related 
Macular Degeneration; and 
2 


h) to network with other organizations, institutions and professionals working 
for the promotion of legislation and public programs for afflicted persons. 
It shall carry out a program on Age-related Macular Degeneration which 
shall educate and inform elderly who are sixty (60) years of age or older on 
the need to periodically undergo comprehensive eye examination. 
The national campaign shall include the development and distribution 
of written educational materials, and the development and placing of public 
service announcements that are intended to encourage the elderly to seek 
comprehensive eye examination and to create awareness on the need for 
improved technologies for Age-related Macular Degeneration detection and 
minimally invasive treatment. 
In developing the national campaign under this Act, the DOH shall 
recognize and address racial, cultural and ethnic disparities in the incidences 
of Age-related Macular Degeneration. 
SEC. 
5. Programs and Services for Age-Relafed Macular 
Degeneration Prevention. - The programs and services that will be provided by 
the DOH shall include, among others, the following: 
a) Establishment of National and Regional Referral Services where the DOH will 
update a list of health care institutions concerned with the care and rehabilitation 
of patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration; 
b) Publication of reading materials for the medical condition’s early detection, 
prevention, rehabilitation and care; 
c) The conduct of continuing education, information and training programs and 
lectures on the proper handling of afflicted persons; 
d) The establishment of a databank and information and monitoring system 
(IMS) on the demographic, socio-economic and incidence and prevalence of 
afflicted persons in the country; and 
3 


e) The conduct of continuing educationhraining of families, teachers, therapists 
and caregivers of persons with Age-related Macular Degeneration through 
seminars, conventions and other forms of tri-media educational tools. 
SEC. 
6. Age-related 
Macular Degeneration 
Detection and 
Screening Fees. - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) 
shall include the cost of early detection and comprehensive eye examination 
for Age-related Macular Degeneration as one of the available benefits to its 
members. 
The early detection and eye examination fee shall be applied to, among 
others, testing costs, education, follow-up and readable overhead expenses. 
These early detection and examination are designed to identify persons who 
should receive more intensive diagnosis or assessment in order to improve 
the health and well-being of the patient. 
SEC. 7. National Awareness Week for Age-related Macular 
Degeneration Prevention and Mitigation. - In order to mainstream the issues 
and concerns of the elderly with Age-related Macular Degeneration, the first 
week of September of every year is hereby declared as the “Age-related 
Macular Degeneration Awareness Week”. This week shall be celebrated 
nationwide so that stakeholders can celebrate and increase public awareness on 
the prevalence and incidence of Age-related Macular Degeneration in the 
country. The week-long activity will be spearheaded by the Department of Health 
(DOH). 
SEC. 8. Appropriafion. - The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general 
appropriations of the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Institute of 
Health (NIH). 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) 
months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate 
necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this 
Act. 
4 


SEC. IO. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or 
invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
5