ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (PIA) – To further drum beat and encourage the practice of breastfeeding in the various workplaces here, the City Council enacted Ordinance 377, known as breastfeeding ordinance.

Claudine Uniana of the City Information Office said the ordinance is geared at intensifying the practice of breastfeeding in the city.

Uniana explained that “the ordinance pushes for the establishment of a work environment that fulfills the basic physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and infants, as well as protecting working mothers by providing safe and healthy working conditions, taking into account the maternal functions, facilities, and opportunities that will enable mothers to combine family obligations with work responsibilities.”

She further explained that “Ordinance No. 377 recognizes breast milk as the best source of nutrition for babies, and that breastfeeding promotes the development of emotional bonding between mother and child, bestows upon the newborn infant protection against infection, provides the mother natural contraception after delivery and protects mothers from closely spaced pregnancy.”

Uniana confirmed that the ordinance mandates all private enterprises, government agencies, including their subdivisions and instrumentalities, and Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) in the city to establish lactation stations where working mothers can breastfeed their babies during lactation breaks.

The ordinance clearly states that lactation stations must be equipped with “lavatory for hand-washing unless there is an easily accessible lavatory nearby, refrigeration or appropriate cooling facilities where to store the expressed breast milk, table, comfortable seats, electrical outlets, and other necessary items.

“Nursing mother employees will also be allowed to take break intervals in addition to regular time-off for meals to breastfeed or expressed milk after asking permission from her supervisor,” Uniana said.

Private establishments or government institutions caught violating the ordinance will be imposed a fine amounting to P1,000 for the first offense, for second offense, a fine of P2, 000 and non-extension of Sanitary Permit will be accorded to violators, and a fine of P3,000 and cancellation or revocation of business permits or license to operate for third offense.