A new law promoting the practice of breastfeeding among mothers has been signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Republic Act No. 10028, “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act,” mandates breastfeeding facilities in public areas and offices, and “milk breaks” for nursing female employees.

The law, which amended Republic Act 7600 or the “Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992,” adopts a national policy on breastfeeding and aims to reverse the decline in breastfeeding rates.

Proponents of the law earlier discovered that only a few mothers are breastfeeding their babies despite the passage of RA 7600 that laid out guidelines and incentives for health institutions relative to rooming-in and breastfeeding.

“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,” the law read.

RA 10028 mandates that the lactation stations in workplaces and public places should be adequately equipped with necessary facilities for mothers to feed their infants. Compliant non-health institutions can seek an authorization from the Department of Health so it could use the designation “mother-friendly” in their promotional materials. The health department will keep a list of “mother-friendly” establishments and make it available for public inspection.

Nursing female employees should also be given reasonable compensable time during work hours to breastfeed or express their milk based on the new law. It also encourages the health institutions to set up milk banks for safe collection and storage of breast milk.

Another salient provision of the law is the provision of incentives to institutions that set up proper breastfeeding facility for mothers to breastfeed and express milk.

Expenses incurred by private health establishments shall be considered deductible expenses from income tax purposes up to the twice of the amount incurred. Government hospitals, on the other hand, get an additional appropriation equivalent to the savings that they may derive from compliance of the law.

The Department of Health, which will lead an inter-agency committee to oversee the implementation of the law, was directed to continue information and training programs for health workers on lactation management.

The health department will also develop and provide breastfeeding programs for working mothers which would be part of the companies’ human resource development.

The law also authorized the integration of breastfeeding education in the school curriculum, from elementary to college to develop the students’ positive attitude toward breastfeeding.

The month of August in each and every year was also declared a ‘‘Breastfeeding Awareness Month” to promote the practice among mothers.

Any person who refuses to comply with the law shall be imposed a fine ranging from R50,000 to R500,000. Business licenses of private hospital or non-health could also be cancelled if found guilty of violating the law.

The measure, signed into law last March 16, takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or at least two national newspapers.

The legislation was a pet project of Senator Pia Cayetano who vigorously promoted the establishment of breastfeeding rooms in public places despite aggressive marketing campaign of infant formula manufacturers.