Senator Pia S. Cayetano, a staunch breastfeeding advocate and former Chariperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, led the passage of Republic Act 10028 or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009”, which provided nursing employees paid lactation periods of 40 minutes for every 8 hour working period, in addition to the regular breaks, and mandates the establishment of lactation stations in all health and non-health facilities.
BOHOL – Senator Pia S. Cayetano, through her advocacy arm Pinay In Action (PIA), successfully kicked off the National Breastfeeding Awareness Month with two seminars in Bohol on August 1 and 2. The events, held in Tagbilaran City and Panglao, were organized in collaboration with Mayor Jane Censoria Cajes,” and Mayor Edgardo “Boy” Arcay, respectively.
Over 600 attendees, primarily barangay health workers and pregnant mothers, gathered to learn more about the importance of breastfeeding, maternal health, and child nutrition.
During the seminar, Dra. Vivian Eustaqio, the resource person from the Office of Senator Pia Cayetano, discussed the salient points of Republic Act 10028 or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009” along with proper latching techniques, expressing and storing breast milk; rights of breastfeeding mothers in the workplace; and the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child.
A former breastfeeding mom herself, Senator Pia has been promoting breastfeeding as one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, since her first term as senator in 2004. She also principally authored and sponsored Republic Act 10028.
The law grants nursing employees paid lactation periods of 40 minutes for every 8 hour working period in addition to the regular breaks. It provides for the establishment of Lactation Stations in all health and non-health facilities, including public & private offices, schools, transport terminals, and shopping malls; and incentivizes health institutions to become ‘mother-baby friendly’.
The successful seminars in Bohol mark a strong start to the National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, bolstering efforts to promote breastfeeding and provide support to lactating mothers in the early stages of nurturing their infants.
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