Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A BREASTFEEDING CENTER IN EVERY BARANGAY 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is one of the 37 countries that fully implement the 
International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes through its 
Executive Order No. 51 or the Milk Code. Enacted in 1986, the Milk Code 
ensures the protection of the breastfeeding culture in the country. However, 
after more than three decades of the implementation of the Milk Code, studies 
still show that Filipino mothers have yet to fully understand the benefits of 
feeding their babies exclusively with breast milk. 
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, only 34% of Filipino 
infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed. Most Filipino mothers 
opt to use milk formulas due to the alleged inability to produce breast milk 
and time constraints. 
While the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act (Republic Act 10028) 
has been enacted to make workplaces friendly to breastfeeding mothers, this 
Act has not been fully implemented and is only rather focused on select 
private and government institutions. 
To further strengthen the country’s existing policies on breastfeeding 
and promote this among mothers, this bill seeks to establish breastfeeding 
centers in barangays. These breastfeeding centers shall serve as a haven of 
information on breastfeeding and shall nourish a sense of community and 
support among breastfeeding mothers and their families.  
August 1, 2022
8:10 am
2790


By establishing more spaces for breastfeeding mothers at the barangay 
level, the country can reap the optimum benefits of breastfeeding. It is the 
hope of this measure to empower mothers while ensuring a healthier 
generation of newborn Filipinos to come. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
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: 
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 as 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” means 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 breastfeeding method and proper use
of breast-feeding materials;
(c) “Barangay breastfeeding personnel” authorized health workers
assigned by the municipal health office to supervise the healthcare
facilities in each barangay; and
2790


 
 
(d) “Breastfeeding materials” means materials used to aid lactating 
mothers in breastfeeding which include medicines, vitamins, breast 
pumps and other useful paraphernalia; materials shall also include 
breastfeeding milk supplements to be supplied by the barangay 
breastfeeding centers. 
 
SECTION 4. Establishing of Barangay Breastfeeding Centers. – If 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 5. 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. 
 
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. Implementing 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. – The Secretaries of 
Health and Social Welfare and Development 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. 
 
SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,