Valencia City showcases breastfeeding room

By EJ MONTEBON

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon– As the whole nation celebrates the National Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August, with the theme, “Tama, Sapat, at Ekslusibo, angPagpapasusokahitnasaTrabaho’’, the city government here headed by  Mayor Azucena P. Huervas,  in cooperation of the  City Nutrition Office showcased the city’s Breastfeeding Room during the celebration.

The breastfeeding room, strategically located at the City Nutrition Office, is accessible to the mothers who are lactating. It was functional since January 2015 and it is intended for breastfeeding mothers who happened to have a transaction in the city hall and also for the local employees. The breastfeeding employees are also benefitting from the room since it has a comfortable chair, table, lavatory, and a refrigerator where they can store their expressed milk before sending it to their babies in their homes. Ms. Ellen Ann G. Cutaran, an employee from the City Planning and Development Office is frequently visiting the breastfeeding room to express milk for her 3 month-old baby. “I find this room a great help since I have privacy where I express milk for my baby,” She added. “Breast milk is free and it is the best gift a mother can give to her child.” Ms. Hazel Dondonayos, nutrition action officer even stated that Republic Act No. 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 states that working and breastfeeding mothers are entitled to paid lactation periods or break intervals to allow breastfeeding mothers to breastfeed or express milk.

She also said that the local chief executive has strongly supported this program as she is also a mother and she knew how important breastfeeding is in relation to nutrition.