DOLE pushes for breast-feeding stations in more workplaces

Millicent Santos, the company nurse of giant courier company,

United Parcel Service Landside, is agog these days. As one of
the tireless proponents of breast-feeding, Ms. Santos believes the
campaign for the establishment of lactation stations in private
sector companies in the region is gaining more adherents. "More
and more women workers should come out in the open and join
our call for the set-up of breast-feeding stations in their
companies. This is not only a boost to good health of both mother
and child, but also a boon to productivity and safe working
condition," Santos said at the recent Orientation on Workplace
Lactation Station organized by the DOLE Regional Office No. 3
jointly with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC).
The 40 or so representatives--company nurses, health
practitioners, and managers--of some 30 company locators at the
Clark Freeport Zone who attended the orientation couldn't agree
more. Like Ms. Santos, they, too, appreciate and support the
efforts of the DOLE to give more teeth to R.A. 10028, also known
as the "Expanded Breast-Feeding Act of 2009, As Amended", and
are encouraging other companies to set-up lactation stations in
their company premises. Aderans Philippines, Inc., Fontana
Leisure Park, Sutherland Global Services, Texas Instruments
Philippines, Inc., Clark International Airport Corporation, United
Parcel Services, Landside, and Phoenix Semiconductor Philippine
Corporation, were among those that sent in their representatives
to the orientation.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz,

who has consistently demonstrated support to the modern Filipino
working woman, has vowed to intensify the DOLE's advocacy
campaign for the set-up of breast-feeding stations in more
workplaces in private sector establishments.
"We uphold and we will implement more seriously R.A. 10028,"
she said after the DOLE Regional Office No. 3 Director
Raymundo Agravante reported on the success of the orientation.
"Breast-feeding is not detrimental to productivity requirements of
working mothers; rather, it is the opposite. Breast-feeding boosts
morale," Baldoz added, citing research that shows working
mothers who have access to lactation facilities tend to be more
productive as they feel less guilty--despite being working
mothers--about their ability to provide one of the essential needs
of their babies.
The labor and employment chief also said breast-fed babies are
inclined to be more active and healthy, or immune from sickness,
so much so that mothers can have less worry and can refrain
from absenting themselves from work on account of their
children's sickness. During the orientation, implementers
discussed the salient features of R.A. 10028. "Many of its most
common provisions emphasize the rights of working mothers,
such as access to establishments that provide lactation stations,"
Director Agravante stated.
A lactation station, the law provides, must have adequate
equipment and facilities, such as a lavatory; refrigeration or
cooling station for storing breast milk; electrical outlets for breast
pump; a table; and comfortable seats. Under the law, nursing
mother-employees shall also be granted break intervals to breast-
feed, in addition to their regular time-off for meals.
"These break intervals, which shall include the time it takes an
employee to get to and from the workplace lactation station,
should be counted as compensable, provided it shall not be less
than 40 minutes for every eight-hour working period," said
Agravante. Other important topics related to R.A. 10028 which
were discussed at the orientation were workplace policy on
lactation, workplace compliance with the Milk Code, and access
to breast-feeding information. CDC Health Services chief Dr.
Clemencita Dobles demonstrated proper breast-feeding methods
and techniques.
In the present and increasingly competitive work environment
where the boundaries between work and life are increasingly
blurred, companies that embrace FWP as integral part of their
human resource development approach create an environment
conducive to long-term productivity and retention of their greatest
assets--their employees,” she said, finally.

PH gov't to hire 4,000 public school teachers

CAVITE, Philippines - President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III

said on Monday that the Department of Education (DepEd) is
presently hiring professionals for 4,000 teaching positions to
address the backlogs in teachers in public schools.
In his speech during the ceremonial turn-over of the 66,813
classrooms at the Carmona National High School here, the Chief
Executive said the DepEd has yet to fill up all the 103,000 new
teaching positions created under his administration.
"Mula 2010 hanggang 2013 naman, nagdagdag tayo ng halos
103 libong posisyon para sa mga guro. Baka pansinin po n’yo,
“posisyon.” Sabi ko, “Bakit ‘posisyon?’” May kulang pa raw ho
kasi na apat na libong maha-hire," the President said.
"Dati nag-e-export tayo ng teacher, ngayon naghahanap tayo ng
teacher—apat na libo, mga specialized po ito, baka may kakilala
kayong naghahanap ng trabaho, kulang pa ho tayo ng apat na
libo," he said.
The DepEd has hastened the recruitment and hiring process to fill
up the positions.
The government finally achieved a zero backlog in classrooms
with the construction of 66,813 classrooms, the President said.
"Mulat po tayong hindi pa tapos ang ating misyon, at mayroon pa
rin tayong mga pagsubok na dapat lampasan. Marami po ang
winasak na paaralan ng mga nagdaang kalamidad, at bawat taon
ay nadadagdagan ang mga mag-aaral," he said.
"Sa abot ng ating makakaya, titiyakin nating matutugunan ang
batayang pangangailangan sa sektor ng edukasyon; at
sisiguruhin nating pati ang magiging pagkukulang sa mga
susunod na taon dahil sa K to 12 program ay mapapaghandaan
din, matatapos, at hindi mapapamana ang pag-solve sa susunod
na administrasyon," he said.