DOTC urged: Put up breastfeeding stations at airports

MANILA, Philippines – A senior administration lawmaker prodded yesterday the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to immediately implement the law that mandates the establish breastfeeding stations in airports nationwide.

Democratic Independent Workers Associations (DIWA) party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar was referring to Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, which requires the establishment of lactation stations in all health and non-health facilities, institutions and establishments.

She said DOTC officials are liable for sanctions for failing to implement the law. 

“(Establishments) should have a lavatory for washing hands, outlets for the breast pumps, a refrigerator for expressed breast milk and comfortable seats,” Aglipay-Villar said.

She said she was looking for a lactation facility at the Dumaguete airport last week for her baby but she could not find any. 

“The Dumaguete Airport did not have any. It had a VIP lounge, which I asked permission to use to pump but was not allowed to enter. I was then forced to pump breast milk in the waiting area,” the lawmaker said. 

When asked as to whether the airport officials knew she was a member of the House of Representatives, Aglipay-Villar said it did not matter to her.

“This is a right that every mother should have. The law is clear. Whether or not they knew I was a government official is irrelevant at this stage. There is an evident denial of mother’s rights,” she said.

“I will take up the lack of nursing stations in airports with DOTC and the implementation of RA 10028 with the House oversight committee on health,” she said.

According to UNICEF, early and exclusive breastfeeding significantly reduces neonatal mortality, supports healthy brain development, cognitive performance and better educational achievement at age five.

Aglipay-Villar, who is also the vice-chair of the committee on human rights, also took the opportunity to remind mall owners that they too have the responsibility to provide for “hygienic and sanitary” nursing stations.

Under RA 10028, any private non-health facility, establishment and institution that unjustifiably refuses or fails to comply with the establishment of lactation stations and the grant of lactation breaks can be fined P50,000 to P1 million and have their permits or licenses to operate cancelled, depending on the gravity and frequency of the offense.

Heads, officials and employees of government health and non-health facilities, establishments and institutions who violate the law may also be reprimanded, suspended and eventually dismissed.