Manila: Senator Loren Legarda has announced her unwavering support for the protection and promotion of breastfeeding across the Philippines. Legarda reiterated her commitment during the privilege speech of Senator Pia Cayetano, as she urged the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Vocational Education and Training Authority (TESDA) to incorporate breastfeeding promotion into their educational programs, aligning with the Breastfeeding Promotion Act.
According to Philippines News Agency, Legarda emphasized the importance of breastfeeding as a crucial intervention for infant health, citing recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) for initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding with complementary feeding up to two years or beyond.
The 2023 National Nutrition Survey highlighted that only 61.2 percent of infants in the Philippines were breastfed within the first hour of life, with exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months at 50.4 percent. Alarmingly, 17.7 percent of infants received pre-lacteal feeds, such as formula or other liquids, shortly after birth, which can hinder successful breastfeeding from the outset.
Legarda pointed out systemic issues contributing to declining breastfeeding rates, including inadequate workplace support for nursing mothers, limited and unevenly distributed milk banks, weak cold chain and inventory systems, and the absence of structured donor networks in many regions.
To address these challenges, Legarda stressed the need for enhanced policies, better coordination among relevant agencies, and a shift towards a culture that supports mothers and infants. She asserted that breastfeeding is not only a personal choice but a shared responsibility necessitating collective action from government bodies, communities, and workplaces.
To strengthen breastfeeding practices, Legarda introduced Senate Bill No. 792, or An Act strengthening rooming-in, breastfeeding, and Breast Milk Banking practices in the Philippines. The bill proposes expanding and amending Republic Act 7600, also known as the 'Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992,' as amended by RA 10028, with provisions for funding and mechanisms to support these initiatives.
The proposed legislation aims to establish a National Breast Milk Banking Strategy, expand regional human milk bank units and satellite banks nationwide, and enforce standardized safety protocols for milk collection, screening, and storage. Additionally, it will create a real-time online tracking system for efficient milk distribution to ensure timely access to safe donor milk for premature and emergency-affected infants.
Legarda highlighted the significance of institutionalizing breast milk banks as a means to significantly increase exclusive breastfeeding rates and provide every Filipino child with a healthier start in life. As the nation observes August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Legarda called for prioritizing and passing the proposed bill to make breastfeeding support accessible and sustainable for all Filipinos.
