Philippines has envisioned that all mothers will breastfeed their children and celebrate the profound experience of motherhood with gratitude and respect to God’s infinite wisdom and generosity. This is a revival of the earth-friendly Filipino indigenous nurturing practices that sustained infant feeding in the past decades.
As the country campaigns to counter the current social pressure of resorting to hazardous formula milk for the babies and the young children, a town of the island province of Batanes has been silently supporting the vision – the community of Ivana.
With the accessibility issue in going to the province, goods are not easily transported and so prices of such are definitely double or even triple as compared to the mainland market value. This is the reason why Ivatans, the locals of Batanes, need to be creative and pursue indigenous means of survival.
In the recently concluded Regional Nutrition Awarding ceremonies, the nutrition committee of Ivana town wowed the crowd as it bagged two major recognitions – the Regional Green Banner Award (GBA) and the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN).
The town emerged to be the best among other regional contenders in the municipality category as it waved its banner innovative practices in health and nutrition, including its infant young child feeding programs.
Ivana coined the term ‘Breastfeeding Angels’ referring to lactating mothers who also serve as human milk banks. It was conceptualized to ensure 0-24 month old babies will be exclusively breastfed as well as to share milk for other babies of working moms.

‘Human milk bank’ concept is the first in the region and perhaps in the whole country. Whenever there are mothers encountering hardships in producing breast milk for their babies as well as those who could not regularly breastfeed their infants, the lactating mothers can share some of their breast milk to those who need it.
“This is I guess the most unique and laudable innovation of Ivana which is best replicated by other towns. These breastfeeding angels are babies’ health saviors and I really commend them for such sweet and lovely endeavor. With this, their motherhood essence is extended for others to live healthy”. said Rhodora G. Maestre, nutrition program coordinator of the National Nutrition Council region 2.
The human milk bank concept, Maestre added, is a pro-life and a nutrition conscious program as it ensures nutritional status of the babies instead of resorting to formula milk which is not recommended, especially for those new born up to six-month old.
Realizing the humane deal of the program, some local officials organized a group called “Katuwang Niyo Kami” (KNK) to further strengthen exclusive breastfeeding among mothers and in support further to the ‘Breastfeeding Philippines’ vision.
“The group consists of husbands, caregivers and barangay nutrition council members whose mission is to help advocate breastfeeding practices and generate funds for their infant and young child feeding programs in preparation to the complementary feeding which is the next step after breastfeeding period,” said Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Maricel Cabuco.
Other than these, Ivana nutrition committee members also conceptualized key strategies for massive information and education campaigns to generate public support on nutrition programs to include the BILIS Kalusugan or Batang Ivaneo Laging Ingat sa Kalusugan.
Members of the nutrition committee with the support of other stakeholders constantly monitor health status of children in the municipality and implement programs to improve nutritional status of those identified at-risks.
The Nutri-Bayanihan is also another initiative which is a strong link between the Rural Health Unit (RHU), Municipal Nutrition Committee and the Barangay Nutrition Committee in the furtherance of services on nutrition and health, especially in monitoring pregnant women and young children weights.
These programs are also well complemented by other programs in relation to nutrition and health to include micronutrient supplementation, feeding programs, healthy lifestyle activities, monitoring and assistance for nutritionally at-risk individuals as well as passage and implementation of local policies in the promotion of good nutrition in their locality.
These banner programs that have emanated from a quiet community, Ivaneos believe, have created resounding sound of pride, prestige and honor in the whole country.