MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ PROCLAMATION NO. 722, October 28, 2024 ]

DECLARING THE SECOND WEEK OF OCTOBER OF EVERY YEAR AS "NATIONAL MYOPIA CONSCIOUSNESS WEEK"

WHEREAS, Section 15, Article II of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them;

WHEREAS, myopia or nearsightedness is a refractive error in which rays of light entering the eye parallel to the optic axis are brought to a focus in front of the retina when ocular accommodation is relaxed;

WHEREAS, during the Global Scientific Meeting on Myopia in 2015, the World Health Organization - Brien Holden Vision Institute reported a rapid global rise in myopia, predicting that by 2030 and 2050, 3.36 billion and 4.80 billion people, respectively, will be affected, increasing the risk of vision impairment from conditions like retinal damage, cataracts, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration;

WHEREAS, there is a need to promote public awareness on the dangers of myopia, and acknowledge the importance of myopia prevention and control to encourage healthier lifestyle habits among Filipinos; and

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all the executive departments, bureaus and offices and the mandate to ensure the faithful execution of laws;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R, MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby declare the second week of October of every year as "National Myopia Consciousness Week."

For this purpose, the Department of Health (DOH), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and its Board of Optometry shall lead the yearly observance of the National Myopia Consciousness Week.ℒαwρhi৷

All other agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges, are hereby enjoined, and all local government units, non-government organizations, professional associations, and the private sector, are hereby encouraged to actively participate and render the necessary support and assistance to DOH, PRC, and PRC - Board of Optometry for the effective implementation of this Proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 28th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.

By authority of the President:

(Sgd.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Executive Secretary


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