The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) held its first-ever breastfeeding session for its employees and their spouses/partners on August 23, 2023, in Quezon City.
This initiative expects to address gender issues, implement Gender Mainstreaming in the agency, and support the nationwide celebration of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August with the theme “Isulong ang ligtas at malusog na pagpapasuso para sa manggagawang Pilipino”.
The national government through the National Nutrition Council (NNC) promotes exclusive breastfeeding to infants to provide them with the proper nutrition they need that is crucial to their growth and development. However, according to NNC, only one out of every three Filipino children is breastfed and the most frequent reason for stopping breastfeeding is that mothers need to return to work.
With this, JJWC Executive Director and GAD Focal Point System Chairperson Atty. Tricia Clare A. Oco said, “JJWC organized this session to further support its employees, especially the aspiring and expecting mothers, including their spouses/partners, to acquire proper knowledge about breastfeeding and encourage them to apply these learnings”.
Ms. Claire S. Mogol-Sales of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas discussed Breastfeeding 101.
JJWC BREASTFEEDING POLICY
In April 2023, in compliance with Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 and in recognition of the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and baby, the JJWC issued a Breastfeeding Policy and Guidelines on the Use of Lactation Room in JJWC National Secretariat.
The policy provides employees with 90-minute lactation breaks per day, a designated lactation room, and access to breastfeeding information and other services. In addition, all women employees who are going on maternity leave will be provided with information on how they can combine breastfeeding and work once they return to work.
Further, “JJWC commits in developing more responsive and comprehensive policies and activities to better promote breastfeeding within the agency,” Atty. Oco added.
