AN agreement was signed for the establishment of a lactation station in the ground floor of Mandaue City Hall last Friday.
Mayor Jonas Cortes signed the agreement with the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a representative from the National Nutrition Council (NNC).
Cortes said the move would promote breast-feeding and encourage the setting up of breast-feeding stations in the city’s workplaces.
Cortes said he assigned City Health officer Dr. Edna Seno to set up the lactation station.
Health Undersecretary and NNC Executive Director Maria Bernardita Flores hailed the signing as the first in the country. She urged other local government units and business groups to also implement the project.
“This is part of our program to promote the city as mother-child friendly,” the mayor said.
Republic Act 10028 or the “Expanded Breast-feeding Promotion Act of 2009” signed by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 16, 2010 provides tax incentives to all government agencies and private establishments that provide lactation stations for working mothers.
Dr. Seno said she would present the plan of lactating station during the next meeting of the Gender and Development Council headed by First Lady Sarah Walker Cortes for funding. /REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS