By Bhaby De Castro

 

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines — Breastfeeding mothers in Batangas City now have a new facility where they can donate excess breast milk, following the establishment of a Human Milk Depot at SM City Batangas through a partnership among the Department of Health (DOH), SM Cares, Batangas Medical Center (BATMC), and the city government.

The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on August 12 at the mall’s Atrium Center, with the Human Milk Bank Association of the Philippines also supporting the initiative.

The Human Milk Depot aims to provide safe donor milk to infants who need it most, including premature babies and those whose mothers are unable to breastfeed or produce enough milk.

Under the MOA, lactating mothers with excess breast milk who wish to donate will undergo screening by the City Health Office (CHO). The donated milk will then be collected, processed, and pasteurized by BATMC before being brought to the Human Milk Depot at SM City Batangas.

The donor milk will be safely stored at the depot and provided to infants who need it most, including premature babies and those who cannot be breastfed by their own mothers.

According to Atty. Pearl Turley, SM Program Director for Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, the program started last year and aims to establish more Human Milk Depots in SM malls across the country.

“SM Supermalls believes that social responsibility is part of its advocacy, where all mothers should be supported in caring for their children, as well as in helping babies grow healthy and strong. That is why all our malls have breastfeeding stations to provide mothers with an appropriate place for their babies while they are strolling or shopping,” said Turley.

In her message, DOH Calabarzon Assistant Regional Director Dr. Rosa Marie Rempillo said the agency has long been promoting breastfeeding because it is an effective way to help infants grow healthy and become less prone to illness.

“Through this collaboration among SM, the Batangas City LGU, Batangas Medical Center, and our agency, safe milk for infants will be ensured. This will also help mothers who are unable to produce enough milk for their babies. With the help of this Milk Depot, many infants can receive safe milk,” said Rempillo.

Mayor Marvey Marino said many children need access to safe milk and emphasized that the initiative is for the welfare of infants, which is why the city government fully supports the program.

Meanwhile, more than 100 lactating mothers in the city participated in a milk-letting drive as part of the Nationwide Breastfeeding Activity (Hakab’ta), with the theme “Strengthening Breastfeeding Support through Human Milk Donation and Partnership.”

The Human Milk Depot is the seventh established by SM Supermalls and the first of its kind in Southern Luzon.

August is observed as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Mothers are encouraged to exclusively breastfeed their babies during the first six months of life to help promote their health and well-being. (MPDC-PIA Batangas)