Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1135 
 Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Human milk banks provide safe breast milk to infants in emergency situations, such as 
those who are affected by disasters, are critically ill or born prematurely. Breast milk provides 
all the nourishment that infants need in their first six months of life.1 In human milk banking, 
human milk collected from donors were pasteurized and dispensed to those babies in need. 
Under Section 2, Declaration of State Policy of Republic Act No. 10028 otherwise 
known as the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, “Breastmilk is the best food 
since it contains essential nutrients completely suitable for the infant’s needs. It is also nature’s 
first immunization, enabling the infant to fight potential serious infection. It contains growth 
factors that enhance the maturation of an infant’s organ systems. 
“Towards this end, the State shall promote and encourage breastfeeding and provide 
the specific measures that would present opportunities for mothers to continue expressing their 
milk and/or breastfeeding their infant or young child.” 
Republic Act No. 10028 was enacted in 2009 to encourage, promote, and support the 
practice of breastfeeding. In 2015, however, UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO) 
urge Philippine government to improve public investment in support for breastfeeding because 
in that year, around 2.8 million Filipino children under 2 years of age were undernourished due 
to sub-optimal breastfeeding practices. As a result, around 7,500 Filipino children under 2 years 
of age die annually due to undernutrition resulting from inadequate breastfeeding practice. In 
2017, a report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, only 34% of children under six 
months in the Philippines are exclusively breastfed. With these data, we can conclude that 
breastfeeding is still an ongoing concern in the country.  
1 Milanes, Vittorio. “How A Human Milk Bank Works.” 20 March 2019. UNICEF Philippines, 
https://www.unicef.org/philippines/stories/how-human-milk-bank-works. 
July 2, 2025
3:15 pm


This bill aims to support breastfeeding in critical and emergency situations and to raise 
awareness about human milk banking. With the establishment of regional human milk banks, 
displaced mothers with infants are assured that during calamities and disasters, there is an 
available breastmilk. 
Therefore, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
CHARISSE ANNE C. HERNANDEZ 
          Lone District, Calamba City 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City  
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1135 
 Introduced by the Honorable Charisse Anne C.  Hernandez 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR BREASTMILK COLLECTION AND STORAGE FACILITIES 
AND REGIONAL MILK BANKS FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7600, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO ALL 
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HEALTH INSTITUTIONS WITH ROOMING-IN 
AND BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,” AS 
AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. A new chapter to be numbered as Chapter V is hereby added to Republic 
Act No. 7600, to read as follows: 
“CHAPTER V 
HUMAN MILK BANK 
Section 18. Provision of Facilities for Breastmilk Collection and Storage. – Health 
institutions adopting rooming-in and promoting breastfeeding shall provide equipment, 
facilities, and supplies for breast milk collection, storage and utilization, the standards of which 
shall be defined by the Department of Health. 


Section 19. Establishment of Regional Milk Banks. -  The Local Government Unit 
coordination with the Department of Health shall establish at least one milk bank per region 
and establish guidelines in proper storage and distribution of breast milk.” 
 
SEC. 2. Chapter V of the same Act shall be renumbered as Chapter VI and Sections 
18, 19, 20, 21 are hereby renumbered as 20, 21, 22, and 23 respectively. 
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,