FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 1496 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
10 Jill 15 r3 :33 
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. 
In a press statement issued on 1 August 2005, President Arroyo said breastfeeding will 
also contribute to the country's economy, pointing out that 99 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, we would save $57 million worth of milk formula per week.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 


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A 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OFFICE Of :","", ,:, ,:HFf AiW 
OF TFIE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 
JUL 15 P 3 :33 
SENti9s 
S. No. _'--__ 
-----------------------------------m~~nw~q~'~"~ 
MCEIVEO BY: . e 
... 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A BREASTFEEDING CENTER IN EVERY BARANGAY 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Breastfeeding 
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Centers Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
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welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, it shall promote breastfeeding as a means to 
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provide protection against major illnesses in children such as respiratory infections, diarrhea and 
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malnutrition. The State shall likewise promote breastfeeding as a means to ensure material health 
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by protecting against hemorrhage, anemia, certain cancers as well as facilitating the recovery of 
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mothers from rigors of pregnancy and birth and helping prevent closely spaced pregnancies. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes ofthis Act, the term: 
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(A)"Breastfeeding" mean feeding of the child directly from the breast or the expression 
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on milk from the breast of a lactating woman; 
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(B) "Barangay breastfeeding centers" means breastfeeding centers situated in every 
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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 
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municipal health office to supervise the healthcare facilities in each barangay; and 
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(D)"Breastfeeding materials" means materials used to aid lactating mothers III 
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breastfeeding which include medicines, vitamins, breast pumps and other useful 


paraphernalia; materials shall also include breastfeeding milk supplements to be 
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supplied by the barangay breastfeeding centers. 
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SECTION 4. Establishment of Barangay Breastfeeding Centers. - If the barangay health 
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center in a particular barangay already has sufficient space and equipment to facilitate the 
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barangay breastfeeding program, the barangay breastfeeding center shall be integrated within the 
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barangay health center. If the barangay health center is not sufficiently equipped to facilitate the 
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breastfeeding centers, a separate breastfeeding center shall be built. 
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SECTION 5. Campaign Regarding Breastfeeding and Its Importance to the Health of 
, 
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Infants and Mothers. - The barangay breastfeeding personnel shall also conduct periodical 
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campaigns 'involving information dissemination on the importance of breast feeding for the health 
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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 facililties of barangay breastfeeding centers for free. No 
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payment in any form shall be accepted by the personnel of the breastfeeding centers. They shall 
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however, be allowed to receive donations in the form of breastfeeding materials and 
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supplements. 
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SECTION 7. Who are Entitled to Avail of the Services and Facilities of Breastfeeding 
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Centers. - All residents of the respective barangays shall be entitled to avail of the services ofthe 
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barangay breastfeeding centers. 
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SECTION 8. Funding for Barangay Breastfeeding Centers. - The funds to be used for 
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the barangay breastfeeding centers shall be allocated from the budget of the respective local 
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government units. 
The respective barangay councils shall also allocate budget for the 
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breastfeeding centers from the budget of their respective barangays. 
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SECTION 9. Monitoring and Inspection of Barangay Breastfeeding Centers. - The 
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municipal or city health office having jurisdiction over the respective barangay shall monitor and 
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inspect the services 'and facilities of every barangay breastfeeding center at least once every 
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, . 
month. 
The municipal!city health office shall ensure that every breastfeeding center has 
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sufficient equipment and are able to efficiently service the needs of constituents, 
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SECTION 10, Trainings and Seminars, - The barangay breastfeeding personnel should 
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undergo trainings and seminars to improve and update their skills in providing breastfeeding 
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services, The municipal or city health offices, in coordination with the barangay officials of 
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every barangay, shaH schedule breastfeeding trainings and seminars at least once every six 
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months, 
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SECTION 11, Implementing Agencies, - The Department of Health (DOH), Department 
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of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the local government units 
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shall be responsible for the implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health (DOH) 
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and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall formulate the necessary 
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implementing rules and regulations for this Act within sixty (60) days upon its effectivity. 
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SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 14, Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly, 
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SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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