Duterte signs law on eye screening for kindergarten students

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has signed into law an act establishing a national vision screening program for kindergarten pupils.

Republic Act 11358, also known as the National Vision Screening Act, seeks to establish the National Vision Screening Program (NVSP) under the Department of Education (DepEd).

It is intended to screen the eye vision of kindergarten students and identify eye problems at early childhood.  

Trained teachers and health personnel will be tapped to identify students with possible vision problems.
Signed by the President last July 31, the law mandates DepEd to administer the program to all those in the kindergarten levels of public schools.

A vision screening kit that contains charts with symbols or numbers, occluders and transparent response key will be provided.   

In coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI), the concerned agencies may recommend new modes or methods of vision screening based on trends and developments.  

The DOH and PERI shall also be responsible for the training and certification of teachers in conducting the vision screening program.

The NVSP also aims to conduct continuing research on the state of visual impairment among kindergarten pupils.

At least P 10 million is appropriated under the budget of PERI of the University of the Philippines-Manila to cover the implementation of the program. 

The agencies shall also develop a system of referral and corrective measures for kindergarten pupils who are suspected or diagnosed to have possible eye ailments.  

The government should also create a vision screening database containing the results of the screening per child and visual diagnoses by the eye care practitioners and to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the NVSP. 

Private schools are also encouraged to adopt its own vision screening system subject to the standards under the NVSP.  The expenses for children studying in private schools shall be assumed by the concerned private schools. 

Under the measure, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. shall develop a benefit package for the consultation and treatment of eye diseases of children.