Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No, 3U88

Introduced by Honorable Anna York P. Bondoc, MD

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to promote awareness on breastfeeding amongst couples
seeking to get married, by mandating that all applicants for a marriage license
receive instructions and information relative to breastfeeding and infant
nutrition,

The backbone of a healthy nation is built on healthy infants and
children. While building awareness on family planning and responsible
parenthood is a step in the right direction towards such goal, a targeted and
specific campaign must likewise be launched so that persons in the best
position to ensure the health of Filipino children are equipped with accurate
and updated information.

The 2002 Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding (Global
Strategy) developed jointly by the World Health Organization and United
Nations Children's Educational Fund recommends that all infants 0-6 months
should be exclusively breastfed and that the same continue up to 2 years of age
and even beyond. Similarly, the United Nations Children's Educational Fund
has found that a breastfed child is three times more likely to survive infancy
than one not breastfed.

In view of the forgoing, it becomes clear that a targeted and specific
information and awareness campaign on breastfeeding and infant nutrition,
alongside that of family planning and responsible parenthood and aimed at
couples intending to be married, becomes critical and imperative for the future
of this country.

This bill specifically seeks to address such necessity by requiring that
couples applying for a marriage license be instructed and informed not just on
family planning and responsible parenthood, but also on breastfeeding and
infant nutrition.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this urgent bill is

earnestly sought.
ANNA dell ral

Representati
4th District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3088

Introduced by Honorable Anna York P. Bondoc, MD

ACT TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING AS AN ESSENTIAL
COMPONENT OF FAMILY PLANNING AND
RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

FAMILY SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING ACT

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This act shall be known as the “Family
Support for Breastfeeding Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles and State Policies. - The State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them. The State likewise recognizes the sanctity of family
as a basic autonomous social institution.

The State upholds that preparation for responsible parenthood should
start even prior to the celebration of marriage so as to allow prospective
husband and wife ample time to consider their options and priorities. Towards
this end, a comprehensive an effective responsible parenthood program should
also include promotion of breastfeeding and proper infant nutrition as an
inherent component of each child’s right to enjoy, and each parent’s
responsibility to provide, the highest attainable standard of health.

Current governments efforts and programs aimed towards promoting
breastfeeding as an optimal and cost-effective means of infant and young child
nutrition should be formally incorporated into the family planning and
responsible parenthood promotion and dissemination mechanism set forth in
Presidential Decree No. 965.

SEC. 3. Mandate. - The Office of Family Planning in every city and
municipality is hereby mandated to give instructions and information not only
pertaining to family planning and responsible parenthood but to extend the
same to cover proper topics relative to breastfeeding and infant nutrition.

The city or municipal health officer shall continue to be assisted by the
city or rural health nurse, members of the city or rural health unit, and such
other personnel from different agencies of the government involved in efforts
towards promotion of responsible parenthood.


SEC. 4. Certificate of Compliance. — Pursuant to Section 3 of Presidential
Decree No. 965 no marriage license shall be issued by the Local Civil Registrar
unless the applicants present a Certificate of Compliance issued by the Family
Planning Officer certifying that they had duly received comprehensive
instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood,
breastfeeding and infant nutrition.

The instructions and information shall be given, and the certificate of
compliance shall be issued, free of charge.

SEC. 5. Assistance of Government Agencies. — Agencies of the
government shall assist the Family Planning Offices in order to further promote
and support family planning and responsible parenthood. Towards this end,
the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development
and the Population Commission shall furnish each Family Planning Office with
the proper information and resources on current studies and research related
to family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition.

SEC. 6. Assistance from the Private Sector. - The Family Planning Office
may request volunteer doctors, nurses or other duly-licensed health
professionals or health care workers to assist in giving the instructions and
information mandated by this act: Provided, That in no event shall anyone
promote, endorse, market or do any act tending to promote or endorse any
commercially-produced and/or commercially-sold product or any paid medical,
health or wellness service.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - The provisions of this Act are herby
deemed distinct and separable from each other. If any provision hereof be
declared invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall
not affect the other provisions which shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — Sections 2 and 3 of Presidential Decree No.
965 are hereby amended accordingly. All laws, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby deemed
repealed or modified accordingly.

____ SEC. 9, Effectivity. This Act shall take effect ninety (90) days following
its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,