What is New in Breastfeeding?

Vicenta E. Borja,RN.,MPH
Policy,Planning and Research
DOH,NCDPC-Family Health Office
 Creating the support for our
mothers and children:
The Expanded Breastfeeding
Act 2009

LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN…

The facts…13.3 million workers are
WOMEN!!!
• 38.4 % of the labor force in the Philippines
are women.

• 33% of the union members are women.

NSO Labour ForceSurvey, October 2008

ILO Report, 2007
 Reasons given by mother (s)
why they stopped breastfeeding
Reason (s) Percent (%)
Inadequate Milk Flow 34.5
Working Outside home/Too busy 25.5
Another pregnancy 9.1
Child Refused 7.8
Mother ill/weak/underwent surgery 7.6
Cracked Nipple/breast infection 5.4
Child old enough for weaning 2.8
Child ill/weak 2.5
Child abandoned/separated from mother 1.5
Others 2.9
Advised by health professionals/friends/relatives 0.5
Child is not gaining weight 0.1
NNS,2008
 And also…

 Children born in health facility are less

likely to breastfeed than those born at
home, 51% vs. 58% (NDHS 2008)
SEC.2 Declaration of Policy.-The State
adopts rooming-in as a national policy

 to encourage,
 Protect, and
 Support

the practice of breastfeeding

SEC.2 Declaration of Policy.-The State shall
protect and support working women…

“The state shall likewise protect working

women by providing save and healthful
working conditions, taking into account
their maternal functions….”
RA 10028: SEC. 4. Applicability
• all private enterprises

• Government agencies, including their

subdivisions and instrumentalities, and
government-owned and -controlled
corporations
 Highlights of the Expanded
Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009
(REPUBLIC ACT No. 10028)

Areas Covered:
1. Health Facility (ies)
2. Workplace (s)
3. Schools
4. Public Places
5. Public
 HEALTH FACILITY:
FACILITY SEC. 10. Provision of
Facilities for Breastmilk Collection and Storage for
Health Institutions
• shall provide
equipment, facilities,
and supplies for
breastmilk collection,
storage and utilization
• encouraged to set up
milk banks for storage
of breastmilk donated
by mothers and which
have undergone
pasteurization.
Photos: Courtesy Web -based
 HEALTH FACILITY:
FACILITY SEC. 10. Provision of
Facilities for Breastmilk Collection and Storage for
Health Institutions
The stored
breastmilk will
primarily be given
ONLY to children in
the neonatal
intensive care unit
whose own
mothers are
seriously ill.
SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING
Photos: Courtesy Fabella Hospital
IN THE HOSPITAL!
 Workplaces:Sec.11 Establishment of
Lactation Stations.

• all health and non-health facilities,

• establishments or institutions
…shall establish lactation stations.
• DOH shall issue the certification
• Tax Incentives for private and
government
• DOLE shall issue the certificate of
exemption
 Workplaces:Sec.11 Establishment
of Lactation Stations
It shall be adequately provided with the necessary equipment and
facilities,

such as:
 lavatory for hand-washing, unless there is an easily-accessible
lavatory nearby;
 refrigeration or appropriate cooling facilities for storing
expressed breastmilk;
 electrical outlets for breast pumps;
 a small table;
 comfortable seats; and
 other items

Photos: Courtesy Region XI

Workplaces:Sec.11 Establishment
of Lactation Stations
Note:

The lactation station shall not

be located in the toilet.
 RA 10028: Sec.4 Exception from
establishing the Lactation Room:
 To be determined by the the Secretary of the
Department of Labor and Employment for the
private sector, and the Chairperson of the Civil
Service Commission for the public sector

Grounds:
 where the establishment of lactation stations is
not feasible or necessary due to the peculiar
circumstances of the workplace or public place
taking into consideration, among others, number
of women employees, physical size of the
establishment, and the average number of women
who visit.
 Workplaces: Sec.12 Provision of
Lactation Periods
• Nursing employees shall granted break
intervals in addition to the regular time-off
for meals to breastfeed or express milk
• counted as compensable hours worked
• not be less than a total of forty (40)
minutes for every eight (8)-hour working
period
 Schools: SEC. 15.Integration of
Breastfeeding Education in the Curricula.
 The Department of Education, the Commission on
higher Education. And the Technical Education,
and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority

 shall integrate in the relevant subjects in the

elementary, high school and college levels, especially in
the medical and allied medical courses;
 the importance, benefits, methods or techniques of
breastfeeding, and
 change of societal attitudes towards breastfeeding
 The Public: SEC. 16.Breastfeeding
Awareness Month.
• Month of August
• a comprehensive national public education
and awareness program shall be
undertaken all throughout the country
 RA 10028: SEC. 19.Incentives
• expenses incurred in complying with the
provisions of this Act, shall be deductible
expenses for income tax purposes up to
twice the actual amount incurred
• Government facilitates may receive an
additional appropriation, equal to the
savings derived as a result of complying
with the law.
RA 10028: SEC. 21. Sanctions
• Up to a maximum of One million pesos
(Php1,000,000.00) and the cancellation or
revocation of the business permits or
licenses to operate.
• For Health Institution reprimand or
censure and suspension of the permit to
operate of the erring health institution (in
case of repeated willful violations
RA 10028: Sec. 21 administrative
penalties
 "Heads, officials and employees of
government health and non-health facilities,
establishments and institutions who violate
this Act
 "First offense - Reprimand;
 "Second offense - Suspension for one (1) to
thirty (30) days; and
 "Third offense - Dismissal.
 "This shall be without prejudice to other
liabilities applicable under civil service law
and rules."
 A Victory for the Filipino
women…a Victory for the Filipino
children!!!
Lets work together to ensure the
effective implementation of this new
LAW…we can make a difference