FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No._ 2429.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Breastmilk gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months
of life and help protect them from infection and diseases. It also reduces the
mother’s chances of getting certain diseases later in life. Breastfeeding also
allows the other and the baby to get closer - physically and emotionally.

Further, bottle feeding does not give the baby the same ingredients as
breastmilk, which is designed to be easy for the baby to absorb and is perfect to

help babies grow and develop. Also, bottle feeding doesn't provide protection
against infection and diseases.

Some of the infections and diseases that breastfeeding helps protect
babies against are:

ear infections

gastro-intestinal infections

chest infections

urine infections

childhood diabetes

eczema

obesity

asthma.

secre cree

As such, The Department of Health (DOH) has urged healthcare facilities
to follow the “10 steps to successful breastfeeding” recommended by the World
Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

In a statement, the DOH said it is important to breastfeed newborns
“within the first hours of life” because they could get the mother's colostrums,
thus giving them a head start in the race against malnutrition.


The DOH said healthcare facilities providing services to pregnant mothers,
new mothers and newborns should observe the 10 steps designed to ensure that
infants are fed adequately with mother’s milk.

Worldwide, it is estimated that some 28 percent of maternity facilities have
already adopted the strategies and it was proven to have contributed to the
increase in breastfeeding rates despite the aggressive commercial promotion of
infant formula and baby bottles.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
requested

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

3429
House Bill No. O25 4

AN ACT
MANDATING THAT ALL HOSPITALS AND ALL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
PROVIDING MATERNITY SERVICES AND CARE FOR NEWBORN INFANTS.
SHOULD FOLLOW THE STEPS IN BREASTFEEDING PROVIDED FOR BY
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND THE UNICEF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to defend the right
of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special
protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other
conditions prejudicial to their development:

SEC. 2. It is hereby mandated that all hospitals and health care facilities
providing maternity services and care for newborn infants shall:

a. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to alll
health care staff.

b. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

¢. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of
breastfeeding

d. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.

e. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if
they should be separated from their infants.

f. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless
medically indicated.

g. Practice rooming-in (allowing mothers and infants to remain together) 24
hours a day.

h. Encourage breastfeeding on demand

i. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to
breastfeeding infants.

j. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer
mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.


SEC. 3. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of the Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,