Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HB.No.__5g¢5

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A BREASTFEEDING CENTER IN EVERY BARANGAY
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 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 exclusively breastfeed their infant up to six months, our country would save $57

LM

H. HARRY L. ROQUE JR.

million worth of imported milk formula per week.'

' This bill was originally filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago in the Sixteenth
Congress, Second Regular Session.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REP! ‘ATIVES
ENO Deed.

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A BREASTFEEDING CENTER IN EVERY BARANGAY
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Barangay

Breastfeeding Centers Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy, — It is the policy of the State to promote
the general welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, it shall promote
breastfeeding as a means to provide protection against major illnesses in children such
4s respiratory infections, diarrhea and malnutrition. The State shall likewise promote
breastfeeding as a means to ensure 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.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:


(A) “Breastfeeding” mean feeding of the child directly from the breast or the
expression on milk from the breast of a lactating woman;

(B) “Barangay breastfeeding centers” means breastfeeding centers situated in
every barangay which provide breastfeeding services such as information on proper
breast feeding method and proper use of breast feeding materials;

(C) “Barangay breastfeeding personne!” authorized health workers assigned by
the municipal health office to supervise the healthcare facilities in each barangay; and

(D) “Breastfeeding materials” means materials used to aid lactating mothers in
breastfeeding which include medicines, vitamins, breast pumps and other usefull
paraphernalia, materials shall also include breastfeeding milk supplements to be
supplied by the barangay breastfeeding centers.

SECTION 4. Establishment of Barangay Breastfeeding Centers. — \f the
barangay health center in a particular barangay already has sufficient space and
equipment to facilitate the barangay breastfeeding program, the barangay
breastfeeding center shall be integrated within the barangay health center. If the
barangay health center is not sufficiently equipped to facilitate the breastfeeding
centers, a separate breastfeeding center shall be built.

SECTION 5S. Campaign for Breastfeeding and its Importance to the Health of
Infants and Mothers. ~ The barangay breastfeeding personnel shall also conduct
Periodical campaigns involving information dissemination on the importance of breast
feeding for the health of mothers and infants,


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SECTION 6. Breastfeeding Equipment and Supplements. — Constituents of
‘every barangay shall avail of the services and facilities of barangay breastfeeding
centers for free. No payment in any form shall be accepted by the personnel of the
breastfeeding centers. They shall however, be allowed to receive donations in the form
of breastfeeding materials and supplements.

SECTION 7. Beneficiaries of the Services and Facilities of Breastfeeding
Centers. — All residents of the respective barangays shall be entitled to avail of the
services of the barangay breastfeeding centers.

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 Barangay 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 once every six months,

SECTION 11. /mplementing Agencies. - The Department of Health (DOH),
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the
local government units shall be responsible 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

SECTION 13. Appropriations. — To carry out the provisions of this Act, such
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the
National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of
this program shall be included in the annual appropriation for DOH and DSWD.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the

other provisions hereof.

SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or
Portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby

repealed, amended or modified accordingly.


1 SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
2 after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general

3 circulation.

Approved,