, 
" 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
Second Regular Session 
'15 JUN-8 P4:15 
SENA1E804 
S.No. 
2 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A BREASTFEEDING CENTER IN EVERY BARANGA Y 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides: 
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of 
the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Breastfeeding infants provides protection against major illnesses in children such 
as respiratory infections, diarrhea and malnutrition and reduces risk of degenerative 
diseases well into adulthood, and ensures material health by protecting against 
hemorrhage, anemia, certain cancers as well as facilitating the recovery of mothers from 
rigors of pregnancy and birth and helping prevent closely spaced pregnancies. 
Breastfeeding is the most far-reaching and least costly Poverty Alleviation 
Strategy of developing countries, especially in the Philippines where breastfeeding 
culture is being diminished beyond all reason, even as it addresses the issues of not only 
economy, but also national health, ecology, empowerment of women, bonding between 
mother and child, love and faith. 
Breastfeeding also contributes to the country's economy. Ninety-nine percent of 
milk formula sold in the market is imported. If all lactating mothers at any given time 
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exclusively breastfeed their infant up to six months, our country would save $57 million 
worth of imported milk formula per week. l 
1 This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
'15 
JUN -8 P4 :15 
________ 
S_. N_O_. __ 
2_8_0_4 ______ 
,_',. _,; ;y --if 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A BREASTFEEDING CENTER IN EVERY BARANGA Y 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Barangay 
2 
Breastfeeding Centers Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the 
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general welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, it shall promote breastfeeding as a 
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means to provide protection against major illnesses in children such as respiratory 
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infections, diarrhea and malnutrition. The State shall likewise promote breastfeeding as a 
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means to ensure material health by protecting against hemorrhage, anemia, certain 
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cancers as well as facilitating the recovery of mothers from rigors of pregnancy and birth 
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and helping prevent closely spaced pregnancies. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(A) "Breastfeeding" mean feeding of the child directly from the breast or the 
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expression on milk from the breast of a lactating woman; 
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(B) "Barangay breastfeeding centers" means breastfeeding centers situated in 
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every barangay which provide breastfeeding services such as information on proper 
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breast feeding method and proper use of breast feeding materials; 
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(C) "Barangay breastfeeding personnel" authorized health workers assigned by the 
2 
municipal health office to supervise the health care facilities in each barangay; and 
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(D) "Breastfeeding materials" means materials used to aid lactating mothers in 
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breastfeeding which include medicines, vitamins, breast pumps and other useful 
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paraphernalia; materials shall also include breastfeeding milk supplements to be supplied 
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by the barangay breastfeeding centers. 
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SECTION 4. Establishment of Baran gay Breastfeeding Centers. - If the barangay 
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health center in a particular barangay already has sufficient space and equipment to 
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facilitate the barangay breastfeeding program, the barangay breastfeeding center shall be 
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integrated within the barangay health center. If the barangay health center is not 
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sufficiently equipped to facilitate the breastfeeding centers, a separate breastfeeding 
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center shall be built. 
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SECTION 5. Campaign for Breastfeeding and its Importance to the Health of 
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Infants and Mothers. -
The barangay breastfeeding personnel shall also conduct 
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periodical campaigns involving infonnation dissemination on the importance of breast 
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feeding for the health of mothers and infants. 
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SECTION 6. Breastfeeding Equipment and Supplements. - Constituents of every 
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barangay shall avail of the services and facilities of barangay breastfeeding centers for 
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free. No payment in any form shall be accepted by the personnel of the breastfeeding 
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centers. They shall however, be allowed to receive donations in the form of breast feeding 
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materials and supplements. 
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SECTION 7. Beneficiaries of the Services and Facilities ofBreastfeeding Centers. 
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- All residents of the respective barangays shall be entitled to avail of the services of the 
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barangay breastfeeding centers. 
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SECTION 8. Funding for Barangay Breastfeeding Centers. - The funds to be 
used for the barangay breastfeeding centers shall be allocated from the budget of the 
respective local government units. The respective barangay councils shall also allocate 
budget for the breastfeeding centers from the budget of their respective barangays. 
SECTION 9. Monitoring and Inspection of Baran gay Breastfeeding Centers. - The 
municipal or city health office having jurisdiction over the respective barangay shall 
monitor and inspect the services and facilities of every barangay breastfeeding center at 
least once every two months. The municipal/city health office shall ensure that every 
breastfeeding center has sufficient equipment and are able to efficiently service the needs 
of constituents. 
SECTION 10. Trainings and Seminars. - The barangay breastfeeding personnel 
should undergo trainings and seminars to improve and update their skills in providing 
breastfeeding services, The municipal or city health offices, in coordination with the 
barangay officials of every barangay, shall schedule breastfeeding trainings and seminars 
at least oncv every six months. 
SECTION 11. Implementing Agencies. - The Department of Health (DOH), 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the local 
government units shall be rdsponsible for the implementation of the provisions of this 
Act. 
SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - DOH and DSWD shall 
formulate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for this Act within sixty (60) 
days upon its effectivity. 
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SECTION 13. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
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amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the 
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National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of this 
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program shall be included in the annual appropriation for DOH and DSWD. 
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SECTION 14. Separability Clause, - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
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provisions hereof. 
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SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
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portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
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repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
Approved, 
lapm5June20 15 
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