At the start of World Breastfeeding Week, Philippine Senator Pia S. Cayetano asked the public to support for legislation promoting breastfeeding in the country.

Cayetano’s Senate Bill 761, also known as the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act,”  proposes breastfeeding stations in public areas and offices, and “milk breaks” for nursing female employees.

Cayetano said that some big shopping malls have already put up breastfeeding rooms for their clients, but she’d like to see the same in places more frequented by ordinary folk like LRT stations, parks and public markets.

Local health departments have encouraged breastfeeding, even as infant formula manufacturers continue their aggressive marketing campaign.

Last May, the health department of Baguio City held a mass breastfeeding dubbed “Sabay-Sabay Sumuso sa Nanay” to promote breastfeeding.

The Philippine Information Agency says “Sabay-Sabay Sumuso sa Nanay” is one of the component of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation program pushed by the Arroyo government.

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