Borongan LGU supports breastfeeding thru Ordinance No. 84

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, PIA Eastern Samar
February 26, 2011

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar  –  The city of Borongan shows its support of breastfeeding through Ordinance Number 84, also known as “An Ordinance Adopting and Institutionalizing the Promotion of Rooming-In/Bedding-In and Breastfeeding Program to Lactating Mothers, and for other Purposes”.

Sangguniang Bayan Member Napoleon Bebita confirmed this to PIA Eastern Samar in an interview after the EDSA 1986 commemoration and Thanksgiving Mass sponsored by the municipal government on February 25, 2011.

Bebita narrated that he has seen his constituents grapple with the high cost of infant milk when they could have just breastfed their babies.

“Drafting a statute in support of the campaign on breastfeeding will help our people realize how serious we are in this campaign,” Bebita explained.

As a city, Bebita added, the LGU has women employees and clients that need a place where to express their milk or feed their babies as needed.

Based on the ordinance, the city shall also protect working women by providing safe and healthful working conditions taking into account their maternal functions.

It added that the ordinance promotes harmonization for work and family responsibilities for women and men; and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes a child’s inherent right to life and the State’s obligation to ensure the child’ survival and development.

The city will also take measures to prevent direct and indirect form of promotion, marketing or sale of infant formula or breast milk substitutes within the lactation station.

The city will also support the celebration of Breastfeeding Month, public education and awareness program on the benefits of breastmilk.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Samar Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Sally Jabinal is elated that the ordinance has been crafted.

“We have advocated in almost all municipalities about ordinances that promote the health and nutrition of our people especially the pre-schoolers,” she said.

This ordinance clearly supports our advocacy, members of the Provincial Nutrition Committee chimed in.