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Let us stop the blame game over the measles outbreak and focus on restoring Filipinos’ trust in vaccines – Pia Cayetano

House Deputy Speaker Pia S. Cayetano said instead of pointing fingers over who is to blame for the measles outbreak, national leaders should focus on restoring the trust of Filipino mothers in the government’s vaccination program for their children.

“Right now, the most important message – the only message – that we need to be hearing from everyone is to assure the mothers. Kumbinsihin ang mga nanay na magpabakuna ng mga anak,” Cayetano said in an interview with reporters in La Trinidad, Benguet on Saturday.

“As we are talking, habang nagtuturuan tayo, habang nagdedebate tayo, namamatay ang mga baby,” she further lamented.

Cayetano, the principal author and sponsor of the Mandatory Infants and Children Immunization Act (Republic Act 10152), stressed that there is an urgent need to end the “general feeling of distrust” among parents towards the government’s mandatory immunization program.

“When I heard the news na nagkaroon na ng outbreak [of measles], dino-double ko ngayon ‘yung  time ko wherever I go to talk about it, to give the mothers that sense of confidence na kailangan nilang ipa-vaccinate ‘yung mga anak nila,” she said.

A study made by the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene revealed that in 2018, only 20 percent of Filipinos agreed to the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, significantly lower than the 80 percent recorded in 2015.

“Ibig sabihin, four in five mothers takot? Mahirap ‘yun. We have to rebuild the trust… because so many illnesses na hindi na natin nae-experience ay may danger na bumalik,” Cayetano said, adding that better access to information could help end the vaccine scare. 

“Bakit natin iri-risk ‘yung buhay ng mga babies dahil sa misinformation or lack of knowledge? Nananawagan talaga ako, hindi lang sa mga nanay, kundi sa buong komunidad… Suportahan natin ang mga nanay para mabalik ang kumpyansa sa immunization,” she added.

The Taguig representative particularly called on the Department of Health and other concerned government agencies to initiate an effective information campaign to educate mothers and families of the benefits of vaccinating their children.#

Photo: Deputy Spekaer Pia Cayetano speaks before women’s groups including vegetable traders, strawberry farmers and Barangay Health Workers at the La Trinidad Trading Post in Benguet.    

Amid the measles outbreak, Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano appeals to barangay leaders, health workers and mothers in Cabanatuan City to help end the vaccine scare

CABANATUAN CITY – Echoing the recent call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, House Deputy Speaker Pia S. Cayetano is encouraging Filipino families and communities to work together for the proper immunization of infants and children, with the goal of protecting them from vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles. 

The congresswoman made the appeal on Thursday to different women’s groups and barangay officials in Cabanatuan City, where she also advocated for reform measures that would improve social services for every member of the family.

“Kailangan ko ang suporta ninyo sa issue na ito… It is our duty to convince the mothers, [para] mapanatag ang kanilang kalooban that these vaccinations are safe… Huwag nating pabayaan na matakot ang mga nanay dahil ‘pag tayo nagka-outbreak, sariling anak natin ay maaapektuhan,” Cayetano said. 

Her message came a day after President Duterte issued an order to the Department of Health (DOH) to intensify the campaign for the complete immunization of Filipino children. 

The principal author and sponsor of the Mandatory Infants and Children Immunization Act (RA 10152), Cayetano reiterated her strong support for the government’s “sustainable and mandatory” vaccination program, which took a hit following the Dengvaxia controversy. 

The Taguig representative said she hopes to allay the public’s fear of vaccinations, stressing that there is a greater danger when parents opt to forego immunization for their children. 

The DOH had already declared an outbreak of measles in the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, and Central and Eastern Visayas. In NCR, cases rose by 550 percent from January 1 to February 6 this year compared to the same period last year. At least 55 deaths were recorded at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, most of them children aged 3 months to 4 years old.

“Huwag silang matakot dahil itong vaccination na pang-newborn hanggang one year old, tried and tested na po ‘yan. Dekada na hong ibibigay ‘yun… Hindi ‘yan para sa akin… para ‘yan sa buhay ng mga bata,” Cayetano stressed. #

Photo: Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano, principal author of the Mandatory Infants and Children Immunization Act (RA 10152), speaks to barangay health workers, women’s groups and mothers about the measles outbreak and the importance of vaccination at the Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) gymnasium in Cabanatuan City.  

Cebu City, Cebu – House Deputy Speaker Pia S. Cayetano on Thursday led the inauguration of Cebu’s first Human Milk Bank at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, where she reiterated her breastfeeding advocacy for the benefit of Filipino mothers and children. 

The service facility will collect, pasteurize, and distribute donated breast milk from nursing mothers to infants at the neonatal intensive care unit who are either premature or have congenital ailments, or those whose mothers could not breastfeed due to childbirth complications.

The establishment of human milk banks in the country is pursuant to Republic Act 10028 or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009,” of which Cayetano was the principal author. 

“The contribution of having a milk bank [is that] it really can save lives… It’s no longer debated that breast milk is the best for babies… Breast milk is the lifeline of all babies,” the congresswoman stressed.

“[But] sometimes, the mother is not able to provide breast milk. So what do you do when these mothers have no milk,” she added, noting that the human milk banks can fill in this gap. 

Under the law, health institutions in the country are encouraged set up milk banks for the storage and processing of donated breast milk, with the goal of providing accessible milk for children who are too ill or whose mothers cannot breastfeed. 

Prior to the law’s passage, Cayetano had already led the launching of the Philippines’ first community milk bank in Makati City. She said her inspiration for lobbying a measure that promotes breastfeeding was her personal experience as a mother. 

“My son was born with a congenital condition or trisomy 13. So for five months of his life, ang mga classmates niya were babies who were born with medical issues or sometimes their mothers cannot breastfeed immediately,” she cited. 

“That’s why I’ve also had the opportunity to share my breast milk with other mothers, not just with that son of mine, but with my other two daughters, I’ve shared my milk with other moms,” she added.

The Taguig representative then expressed her commitment to ensure the full and proper implementation of RA 10028, particularly to push for the establishment of more milk banks in Philippine hospitals. # 

House Deputy Speaker Pia S. Cayetano is pushing for a comprehensive measure to improve the country’s juvenile justice and welfare policy, voting ‘no’ on the House bill lowering the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR).

“Yes, there are children who commit acts that are defined as crimes by our laws. But it is too early to give up on them and treat them as criminals. And this is where my crusade begins,” she said.

Cayetano remains supportive of calls to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (Republic Act 9344), lamenting that the gaps in the law strip child offenders of accountability when they are simply released to homes that do not give them proper guidance. 

“Many minors have been preyed upon and dragged into a life of criminality by syndicates who take advantage of their vulnerability, lack of proper guidance, supervision, and support from the families and communities,” she stressed. 

She added that intermediary measures such as community- or center-based interventions envisioned by the law do not exist in many communities, citing a lack of proper funding. On the other hand, Cayetano said the proposed House bill also failed to consider more holistic interventions in dealing with child offenders.

“Neither the law nor the proposed bill recognized the alternative of foster care. Pursuant to RA 10165 or the Foster Care Act, which I sponsored in 2012, the State recognizes that a child will benefit more from foster care than institutional care,” she cited. 

The congresswoman hence submitted her own proposed amendments, which she hopes would be included in the bicameral version of the bill. 

She said accountability should be present among children in conflict with the law regardless of age, and with each case based on the circumstance of the child. 

Cayetano also wants more sufficient budget for support programs for parents and families, as well as for social workers, child development experts, and personnel who will process cases of children in need of intervention.

“I am hopeful that my concerns can be addressed during bicam. Should my amendments be carried, I will be able to support the bill.”# 

Children as young as 9 years old who come into conflict with the law should be held accountable for their actions, but not as criminal offenders. 

Thus stressed House Deputy Speaker Pia S. Cayetano, even as she agreed that the current law setting the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) at 15 years old needs to be amended to keep children away from a life of crime and being used by criminal syndicates. 

“There should be accountability for young children in conflict with law, but not criminal prosecution, especially when the child is at a tender age of 9,” she said, in a last-ditch appeal to her colleagues at the House to consider her compromise bill in plenary. 

An advocate of the family and Filipino children, Cayetano sent a letter to express her position to the House Committee on Justice which has approved the substitute bill amending the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9934) to lower the MACR from 15 to 9 years old. 

The Taguig City lawmaker said, “It would be unconscionable to hold a child criminally liable when it is clear that it is their environment, home or community that exposed them to violence and other anti-social behavior.”

“I share the frustration of the President and my colleagues at how minors known to be used by criminal syndicates continue to roam the streets with syndicates exploiting the gaps in our existing laws.”

“This is the reason why I pushed for the substitute bill that was approved last year by the sub-committee, where children in conflict with the law would be required to undergo comprehensive rehabilitation through a range of options that would bring them on the right path.”

“Our children deserve to lead a full life, one away from crimes and syndicates. They deserve to be reared in a family and a community that will support them and guide them to become responsible citizens,” she concluded. #

Photo: Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano at a recent Pinay In Action (PIA) self-defense clinic at the Marillac Center for Girls in Muntinlupa.

Kicking off her bid to return to national politics, Taguig City representative Pia Cayetano rode a bike on Tuesday, October 16, to file her certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator.

Cayetano, who is also Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was joined by supporters from Taguig for the bike ride that started from Kilometer Zero in Rizal Park to the COMELEC headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

She told reporters that riding her bike symbolizes her call for sustainable transportation, including safe bike lanes in urban centers.

The former two-term senator is known to have led some of the toughest battles to pass contentious legislation in Congress, including the country’s very first Reproductive Health Act, the Graphic Health Warning Act, and Sin Tax Reform Law.

As a member of the House, Cayetano recently helped pass the 105 Days Expanded Maternity Leave Bill, which was subsequently ratified by both chambers of Congress.

She also stood for the Foreign Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage bills which were approved by the House in a historic vote last March. Both measures remain pending in the Senate.

She vowed to continue her work for women, children, family and the marginalized sectors once elected back to the Senate.

‘In the same way that I pursued in the House what I did not finish in the Senate, I’ll continue in the Senate what I wasn’t able to get done in the House. These are a package of reform measures for women, children, and the family,” she said.

Cayetano is running under the banner of the Nacionalista Party, which has formed an alliance with the Hugpong ng Pagbabago of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, to field common candidates in the 2019 national and local polls. #