PGMA's breastfeeding program ushers new direction
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s policies and programs increased the exclusive breastfeeding rate almost
four times and ushered in a new direction for breastfeeding as an important part of public healthcare and
national development.
Dra. Elvira Henares-Esguerra, founding president of Children for Breastfeeding Inc. (CfB), said the President’s
compassion and political will saved breastfeeding from the brink of extinction, reversing 20 years of frustration
from among its advocates.
The Chief Executive received this morning a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) promoting the
importance of breastfeeding between the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of
the Department of Science and technology (DOST) and the Children for Breastfeeding Inc. (CfB). The MOU was
presented to her by Esguerra and PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya in simple ceremonies this
morning at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall.
Esguerra said the MOU further promotes researches in breastfeeding that include the intake of virgin coconut oil
for breastfeeding mothers to increase the anti-microbial properties of human breast milk.
Esguerra said the President emphasized the importance of infant and young child feeding practices and its
crucial role in national development as a means to reach the country’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of
significantly reducing maternal mortality and deaths among children under the age of five.
In 2005, Esguerra said the President issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1113 promulgating the yearly
celebration of World Breastfeeding Week every August 1-7.
Esguerra said the President also launched the National Plan of Action on Infant and Young Child Feeding 2005-
2010; and made available a bigger budget for the hunger mitigation program which provided funds for training
and education materials on breastfeeding.
Esgeurra said the President’s program and policies have averted the rapid decline of breastfeeding rates
among mothers.
“Thanks to your support Madame President, the number of children who were never breastfed decreased from
13.2 percent in 2003 to only eight percent by 2008 and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding increased almost
four times, from 24 days to almost 90 days,” Esguerra said.
Also presented to the President this morning was the Department of Health (DOH) Guidelines for Physicians on
the Promotion, Protection and Support of Breastfeeding.
Esguerra noted that the DOH guidelines allow no exemptions to the national policy of regulating milk
advertisements for children up to three years of age and forbidding nutritional claims that undermine
breastfeeding.
Researches have pointed out the importance breastfeeding in reducing the prevalence of diarrhea, infections,
allergies and other diseases among infants.
As part of a global public health recommendation, Esguerra said infants should be exclusively breastfed for the
first six months up to two years to achieve optimal growth and development.
Among those present in Malacanang were other breastfeeding advocates, DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro,
and DOH Undersecretary Alexander Padilla.
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PGMA opens first geriatric care hospital in Manila
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Senior citizens of Manila and nearby areas are now assured of quality and affordable healthcare after the first
ever hospital to cater to the specific needs of aging citizens opened its doors to the public this morning.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the blessing and soft launching of the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal
National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) located along General Solano Street in Malacañang, Manila.
The geriatric health center will serve as the country’s premier specialty center for providing better healthcare for
senior citizens who comprise 8.7 million of all Filipinos in the 60 year old and above age bracket.
Statistics reveal this number, recorded as of 2007, is steadily increasing at a rate of 2.3% per year.
Formerly called the Singian Hospital, a Chinese-run hospital which was later converted into Tahanan ng Masa
by former President Joseph Estrada, the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health is a
50-bed hospital facility housed in a four-storey building with a total floor area of 5,477 square meters.
The building will also house other important hospital facilities and rooms such as a pharmacy, a business
office, emergency assessment room, out-patient clinics and a physical therapy room.
The second and third floors will contain the hospital’s clinical laboratory, x-ray and dialysis rooms as well as a
research, medical records and training center on the fourth floor.
Built at a cost of P200-million, the hospital will be under the management of the Jose R. Reyes Memorial
Medical Center, pending the enactment of House Bill No. 6245 entitled An Act Establishing the Dr. Eva
Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) into law.
Prior to the blessing and soft opening ceremonies of the geriatric center, President Arroyo and the First Family
attended a Eucharistic celebration, officiated by Bishop Emeritus Federico Escaler S.J., at the nearby San Miguel
church in commemoration of the 11th death anniversary of Doña Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal.
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