BAGUIO CITY, May 8, (PIA) — The Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Office in the province of Apayao has been accredited as a Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace.
The Apayao Provincial Department of Health Office (PDOHO) headed by Charlyn Tagabing, led the awarding of the accreditation to the SWAD Apayao thru Team Leader Gretchen Garcia in Luna, Apayao recently.
The accreditation of the SWAD Apayao is in adherence to Republic Act No. 10028, or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.”
The achievement follows the successful completion of a rigorous assessment demonstrating SWAD-Apayao’s dedication to providing a supportive environment for nursing mothers and their children.
The PDOHO accreditation process evaluated SWAD-Apayao on various criteria including the availability of lactation facilities, supportive workplace policies, and educational programs promoting the importance of breastfeeding among employees and clients.
The milestone underscores SWAD-Apayao’s commitment to upholding the rights of working mothers and fostering a family-friendly workplace culture.
“As more organizations recognize the importance of supporting breastfeeding employees, SWAD-Apayao serves as a shining example of best practices in this area,” the PDOHO said.
In a statement, Garcia said they are thankful that the SWAD Office has now a functional mother-friendly facility that promotes breastfeeding and adheres to the various guidelines as a Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace.
“The provision of paraphernalia and guidance of the DOH- CAR and DSWD-HRWS in the establishment of our Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace equipped our personnel and facility to effectively cater to the needs of our vulnerable sector. We are grateful for having a functional mother and friendly facility that promotes breastfeeding and establishes a safe space for mothers to be nurtured and valued by the government offices,” Garcia said.
The PDOHO is encouraging more government as well as private offices in the province of Apayao to adhere to the law on the promotion of breastfeeding in workplaces and provide spaces for mothers and their children. (RMC/PIA-CAR with Apayao PLGU, PDOHO)
