Press Release
July 13, 2007

Pia re-files Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Bill;
Dares milk companies to promote breastfeeding to their employees

The bill that seeks to put breastfeeding "back in the mainstream" has been re-filed by Senator Pia S. Cayetano in the 14th Congress.

Known as the "Expanded Breastfeeding Act of 2007," Senate Bill No. 761 aims to reverse declining breastfeeding rates in the country by requiring lactation stations in public places and in private and government offices for the use of mobile and working nursing mothers.

The measure also mandates employers to allow "milk breaks" for their nursing female employees referring to reasonable compensable time during work hours to either breastfeed or express their milk.

The bill was approved by the Senate in the 13th Congress but was stalled on second reading at the House of Representatives.

"It takes an entire community to raise a child. But how can we possibly raise our children on breast milk if the community does not support and encourage it?" asked Cayetano.

"This bill seeks to address a practical problem of most working mothers who are unable to continue breastfeeding in the workplace since it is not supported by their employers."

She noted that going back to work is one of the major reasons why women stop breastfeeding or never breastfeed at all despite the recommendation of the World Health Organization and Unicef to exclusively breastfeed for six months.

Cayetano said that some big shopping malls have already put up breastfeeding rooms for their clients, but she'd like to see the same in places more frequented by ordinary folk like LRT stations, parks and public markets.

She pointed out that a handful of local companies including some milk companies have voluntarily set up breastfeeding stations in their workplace.

She then called on milk companies questioning the ad ban provision of the Milk Code in the Supreme Court to follow suit.

"I challenge the milk companies who have publicly acknowledged the superiority of breast milk over any of their products to take the lead in promoting breastfeeding to their employees by setting up lactation stations and allowing paid 'milk breaks,'" stressed the lady senator.

She noted that aside from reinforcing the Milk Code, SBN 761 seeks to launch a national information and education campaign to promote breastfeeding and inform the public on the documented and inherent hazards of milk formula.

"With support systems in place and with proper information as espoused by SBN 761, we hope to encourage more mothers to breastfeed exclusively up to six months and even up to two years," she said.

"At the same time we will be able to counter misconceptions brought about by the aggressive media campaign of big multinational firms to market their milk products."

News Latest News Feed