Lubao, Pampanga – For many children, reading starts with being able to see the words clearly. Hence, Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) and Ideal Vision Center (IVC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement, last January 27, 2026, to expand the Vision Screening and Eyeglasses Program to SBFI classroom beneficiary schools under the Department of Education (DepEd) Region III. Through this partnership, IVC committed to provide free prescription eyeglasses to 1,000 public school students in 2026.

Central Luzon was identified as a priority area after data showed it had the highest number of below-proficient readers among SBFI’s covered regions. For many of these learners, poor eyesight is a hidden barrier—one that quietly limits participation, confidence, and comprehension inside the classroom. The program directly responds to this challenge, recognizing that clear vision is often the first step toward meaningful learning.

The program builds on the strong results of its 2024 pilot run in South Luzon, where 1,013 students from six SBFI beneficiary schools received free eyeglasses. SBFI led project logistics, school coordination, data gathering, and impact assessment, while IVC conducted vision screenings and deployed volunteer optometrists, opticians, and support staff. Each school also benefited from eye care talks facilitated by volunteer professionals.

Impact results from the 2024 pilot run, along with another extension of the program in Bulacan in 2025, showed marked improvements in reading proficiency. Non-readers were completely eliminated, instructional readers decreased by 40%, and frustrated readers dropped by 63%. Most notably, the number of independent readers increased by 328%, highlighting the program’s role in boosting reading confidence and self-sufficiency.

With DepEd Region III now a formal partner, program documentation and implementation across Central Luzon will be streamlined under a single agreement. This collaboration paves the way for a faster, wider rollout—bringing clearer vision, stronger literacy, and brighter learning journeys to more Filipino children.

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