PALO, LEYTE – In a meeting conducted 6 May 2020, the Regional Nutrition Cluster reiterates its strong advocacy towards the prohibition of milk donations, which is observed through social media, by groups or individuals who are seeking milk donation drives and the like.

EO 51 or the Philippine Milk Code protects and promotes breastfeeding and regulates the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, breastmilk supplements, and other related products. The products covered by the code include breastmilk substitutes and other milk products, feeding bottles and teats, foods and beverages marketed as a partial or total replacement of breastmilk, complementary foods, and other products that may undermine breastfeeding.

Salient violations considered in the context of the code and its revised implementing rules and regulations include:

(1) health and nutrition claims, as well as false and misleading information or claims of products within the scope of the code;
(2) any form of financial, personal or commercial reward, inducement, incentives, and other favors provided directly or indirectly, with or without the company name or logo or product or brand name;
(3) using health workers and the health care system in the dissemination, distribution, and promotion of covered products;
(4) financial and material inducements or gifts of any sort to health workers and/or members of their families to promote products within the scope of the code;
(5) conducting or being involved in any breastfeeding promotion or education, production of information materials on breastfeeding, or holding/participating in classes or seminars for women and children and other similar activities whether with the intention to promote covered products or not;
(6) point of sale advertising, giving of samples or any promotion devices to induce sales directly to the consumers at the retail level, such as special displays, discount coupons, premiums, rebates, special sales, bonus and tie-in sales, loss-readers, prizes or gifts for the products within the scope of the code;
(7) donations of productions, material, defined, and covered under the code.

The code also prohibits the inclusion of breastmilk substitutes in emergency family food packs.

With the current pandemic going on, various relief operations are being conducted both by the government and the private sectors. It is inevitable to find that some milk and other breastmilk substitutes are included in food packs or donations, especially if the benefactor is unaware of the Code.

With this, the EV Nutrition Cluster, together with NNC and DOH, reiterates the strict implementation of Executive Order 51.  A memorandum was requested from the DILG to reiterate the said Code and its implementing guidelines. Likewise, DepEd assured that a memorandum will be disseminated to Division Offices to remind its personnel of the said Code.

RNPC Catalino Dotollo, Jr., the Presiding Officer of the Cluster reiterated to the members to refrain from sharing photos of milk donations on social media as it is a form of advertising. Further, the members are encouraged to be vigilant in the monitoring of Milk Code violations.

Ms. Felecita Borata of DOH stated that the agency is coming up with an algorithm for decision and process flow for the engaging donors, sponsors, and beneficiaries in the implementation of Executive Order 51. This will also be the reference of stakeholders, especially of those private groups who are interested to donate something for LGUs.

The Regional Nutrition Cluster meets regularly to smoothly put into action certain guidelines and protocols especially being implemented during this COVID-19 crisis. The Cluster is composed of members from the Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Plan International, World Vision, identified local government units and other entities working for the welfare of children during emergencies. #NO1DAFLendero