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E-mailPresident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, which seeks to promote breastfeeding by ordering tax incentives for companies that provide breastfeeding and breast milk storage facilities. RA 10028 amends the previous Republic Act 7600 or Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act which was first filed in 1992.
According to the law, “Breast milk is the best food since it contains essential nutrients completely suitable for the infant’s needs. It is also nature’s first immunization, enabling the infant to fight potential serious infection. It contains growth factors that enhance the maturation of an infant’s organ system.”
“Indeed it takes an entire community to raise a child,” said Senator Pia Cayetano, principal author of the law. “What we are aiming for is an entire enlightened community, with high awareness on the advantages of breast milk, in order to raise entire generations of breast-fed, healthy children and empowered breastfeeding mothers.”
“The passage of this law is perfect, March being women’s month. Thus, we can say that this law is the 14th Congress’ gift to all Filipino mothers on women’s month,” she added.
Under the new law all government and non-government agencies, institutions, and establishments are to put up "lactation stations" where nursing women can breastfeed or extract milk for storage. Such stations have to be certified with a “Working Mother-Baby Friendly Certificate” from the Department of Health (DOH), which must then be filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to avail of tax incentives.
Expenses for the putting-up of such facilities are deductible from the company’s annual income tax by up to twice the actual amount spent.
However, exceptions from putting up lactation stations are provided “where the establishment of lactation stations is not feasible or necessary due to peculiar circumstances of the workplace or public place taking into consideration, among others, the number of women employees, physical size of the establishment and the average number of women who visit.”
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