Breastfeeding lawmaker urges DOTC to put up nursing stations in airports

Well, it’s about time! 

Democratic Independent Workers Associations (DIWA) party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar prodded the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to establish breastfeeding stations in airports nationwide, as mandated by law. 

“(Establishments) should have a lavatory for washing hands, outlets for the breast pumps, a refrigerator for expressed breast milk and comfortable seats,” Aglipay-Villar said in a Philippine Star report.

The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 or Republic Act 10028 requires lactation stations in all health and non-health facilities, institutions and establishments. DOTC officials are liable for failing to implement the said law. 

Aglipay-Villar was speaking from experience. She looked for a lactation facility at the Dumaguete airport last week but she could not find any. 

“This is a right that every mother should have. The law is clear. Whether or not they knew I was a government official is irrelevant at this stage. There is an evident denial of mother’s rights,” she added.

She promises to discuss the implementation of RA 10028 with the House Oversight Committee on Health.