18/11/2024
From Dr Anthony Calibo
The 2006 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulation (rIRR) (DOH Administrative Order 2006-0012) of the EO 51 (Philippine ) has faced so many legal battles reaching the and officials getting sued by the Pharmaceutical Association of the Philippines (PHAP).
The revision was aimed to strengthen EO 51โs teeth in countering evolving marketing strategies of milk companies since passage of the law in 1986.
The Philippinesโ disaster prone situation was also considered in the revision of the first IRR to ensure that mothers and infantsโ health and nutrition will be protected through optimal infant and young child feeding practices ( ) - exclusive breastfeeding from birth up to six (6) months old, age-appropriate provision of complementary foods at six (6) months old with continued breastfeeding up to two (2) years and beyond before, during and after disasters, be it human-induced or by natural calamities. Hence Section 19, 51 and 52 have been placed to anticipate milk donations that may happen. DOH AO 2007-0017 on milk formula donation acceptance was also issued a year after this rIRR was signed.
There were no other laws back then similar to the EO 51 and its 2006 rIRR until the passage of in 2016 and in 2018. Between 2006 and 2016, we have encountered so many typhoons, ( , , etc) flash floods, volcanic eruptions, and insurgencies that have displaced and placed mothers and children at risk. The EO 51 and its rIRR were always there - thriving, breathing and protecting people and the system it had to protect.
What we as a country need to learn and what national and local government units need to understand is that building the strong foundations needed in our community to prepare for any emergencies that may happen protects our constituents from adverse health and nutrition outcomes such as sickness, malnutrition, poverty and death.
This video, (Milk) Formula for Disaster, produced by , ctto, reminds us that marketing strategies of milk companies that we now know have just evolved and that the economic situations of our people depicted here are still happening.
Let us contemplate and introspect what the EO 51 and its rIRR, and other laws really want to achieve for our mothers and children. We have our moral duty to by .
Disclaimer: I do not endorse nor sell products that appear this video.
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