Congratulations,  Mabalacat City for acquiring a Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Certification from the Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development (DOH CL CHD)! 

The City Government of Mabalacat was the first among the 137 local government units in Central Luzon to receive the Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Certification from the DOH CL CHD. The certification was issued by the DOH CL CHD Regional Director and CL Regional Nutrition Committee Chair Dr. Cesar C. Cassion on 10 September 2020 and is valid for three years.

A “mother-baby friendly workplace” certification means that Mabalacat City Government ensures the promotion and practice of breastfeeding by providing healthy and safe working conditions for women through the establishment of a lactation station or facility. The city government also instituted a 40-minute break for breastfeeding employees to express their milk and provided information materials on breastfeeding for pregnant women employees.

The breastfeeding station is located at the Business One Stop Shop Area of the City Hall, well-lit,  with comfortable sofa and is equipped with basic amenities such as a lavatory, small refrigerator, small table, breast pumps and covered containers. A staff from the City Nutrition Office (CNO) and a breastfeeding counselor are assigned at the station to assist lactating mothers.

The initiative of Mabalacat City to put up a lactation station in the workplace is an encouragement to other LGUs and other sectors to establish similar facilities in their workplaces.

Republic Act 10028 or Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 mandates the establishments of lactation stations in workplaces, provision of breastfeeding breaks for working breastfeeding mothers, establishment of human milk banks in health institutions, inclusion of breastfeeding in curriculum of schools and declaring August of each year as Breastfeeding Awareness Month. The law also provides for the necessary support services to enable breastfeeding mothers to combine family obligations with work responsibilities.

Let us continue to support, protect and promote breastfeeding anytime and anywhere. 

Sa breastfeeding siguradong healthy si baby at happy si mommy!

Author:
Rose Anne M.  Cuyco
Nutrition Officer II