Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2368

HOUSE BILL NO. _

Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Human milk banks provide safe breast milk to infants in emergeney 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.' 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, “Breastinilk 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 sys

ems.

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,

" Millanes, Vittorio. "How A Human Milk Bank Works." 20 March 2019. UNICEF Philippines,
https:/Awww. unicef. org/philippines/stories/how-human-milk-bank-works.



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

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

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

2364

Introduced by the Honorable Charisse Anne C. Hernandez

AN ACT
NG FOR BREASTMILK COLLECTION AND STORAGE FACILITIES AND
ONAL MILK BANKS FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7600,
KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING INC VES TO ALL
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HEALTH INSTITUTIONS WITH ROOMING-IN AND
BRI iG PRACTICES AND FOR OTHER PURPOS 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,