Nationwide eye screening program for kids gets Senate nod

The Senate on third and final reading approved on Monday a bill establishing a program for the early detection of visual problems among kindergarten pupils.

Senate Bill No. 1706 or the “National Vision Screening Act,” will institutionalize a nationwide eye screening program for kindergarten pupils under the Department of Education (DepEd) and set up a funding facility for a continuing research for eye diseases and treatments.

“The vision of young children, particularly those at a preschool age, plays a crucial role in their development as their sight is the primary guide to most of their learning experiences. It is clear that good and healthy visual skills are fundamental to bolster a child’s literacy,” Senator Sonny Angara, principal author of the bill, said in a statement.

Angara said that vision screening of preschool-aged children would allow early detection of blindness and other visual disorders, which, if not treated, could lead to education and other occupational and safety restrictions later in life.

“It is only proper to establish an early diagnostic initiative for young children. This Act advances a health policy grounded on early preventive intervention that is more efficient than remediation at a later age,” he said.

Under the said bill, the DepEd, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI), will administer the vision screening program, create a database on the results of the tests, and develop a system of referral and corrective measures.

The conduct of a continuing research by PERI on childhood eye ailments is mandated with the creation of the Vision Screening Continuing Research Fund (VSCR), which will be sourced from donations, the senator noted.

All donations and contributions to VSCR shall be exempt from donor’s tax and shall be allowed as deduction from the gross income of the donor.

Angara explained that an appropriation will be included in the annual national budgets of the DepEd and the DOH to cover the expenses of the vision screening tests for public kindergarten pupils. Meanwhile, the cost for screening of private schools pupils will be shouldered by their respective schools. /ee