Butuan City -In the weekly meeting of the Regional Nutrition Cluster on 17 January 2022, the Cluster intensified its coordination with the nutrition workers at the local government units for its monitoring of milk donation especially in the typhoon affected areas of the region.

Department of Health (DOH) Memorandum No. 2020- 0231 or Guidelines on the Standardized Regulation, Related to Executive Order 51, series of 1996 (Philippine Milk Code) to Health Facilities and Workers, Local Government Units, Non-Government Organizations, and Private Groups and Individuals in Support to the Response to Emergencies, Disasters and Situations Where Health and Nutrition of Mothers and Infants and Young Children are affected provided reference on how this policy be monitored.

A company, manufacturing, distributing and marketing entities shall coordinate through writing with the DOH Center for Health and Development or to National Nutrition Council.

The LGUs are requested to determine absolute number of non-breastfeeding children under 3 years old and prepare a target list for the distribution of products based on needs and risk assessment and critical situational analysis, informed by technical guidance. Because of this, LGUs should not include infant milk formula and other items covered by the Scope in the food packs for the general population.

The guidelines also advise to refrain from posting photos and brand names of scope-covered products, including all milk products, in offline and online public fora, to prevent behavioral adjustments among breastfeeding mothers and their children in their communities and unintentional advertising of the products.

Guidelines and advisories related to milk donation has been forwarded to the different nutrition network in the region. The Nutrition Cluster shall be coordinating with the Provincial Nutrition Office for proper monitoring and reiteration of the guidelines. #NASLabordo