Duterte OKs national vision screening program for pre-school kids

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that will establish a program for the early detection of visual problems among kindergarten pupils.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11358 or the “National Vision Screening Act” on Wednesday, a copy of which was shared to the media on Thursday.

President Duterte signs Republic Act 11358 or an Act Establishing a National Vision Screening Program for Kindergarten Pupils. @dzIQ990 @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/3JgVX4V7sV

— chonawarfreak (@chonayu1) August 1, 2019

The law mandated the establishment of the National Vision Screening Program (NVSP) which will be spearheaded by the Department of Education (DepEd) to screen the eye vision of kindergarten pupils.

Trained teachers and health personnel will lead the conduct of simple vision screening tests on kindergarten and identify pupils with possible visual problems, the law stated.

The DepEd will lead the implementation of the NVSP, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI).

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp., meanwhile, is tasked to develop a benefit package for the consultation and treatment of eye diseases for children.

The law also ordered the creation of a Vision Screening Continuing Research (VSCR) Fund to be sourced from “any donation or bequest made to the DepEd, the DOH or the PERI in favor of the NVSP which shall be subjected to existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.”

A P10-million fund will be included in the budget of the PERI to cover the implementation of the law.