SENATOR Pia Cayetano has renewed her call for the inclusion of breastfeeding education in school curricula, citing its benefits to both family health and household savings.

In a privilege speech, Cayetano urged the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to incorporate breastfeeding awareness and promotion into their courses.

“In the breastfeeding promotion act that we passed, it calls on DepEd, CHED, and TESDA to incorporate it into the curriculum, but it doesn’t mean you need a separate course dedicated to this—just integrate it,” she said.

The senator emphasized the long-term advantages of breastfeeding, pointing out its health benefits and financial relief for families.

“Breastfeeding is a huge savings for a family. Imagine if a mother is able to breastfeed for a year—the difference it would make for her child’s health, and the significant savings it would mean for the family’s other expenses,” she noted.

Cayetano also expressed hope that the Department of Health (DOH) would sustain its breastfeeding promotion programs.

“We are just advocating, but we call on all our colleagues to support this,” she added.

Under Republic Act 10028, or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, breastfeeding education must be integrated into relevant subjects at the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels—particularly in medical and allied health courses, as well as in technical-vocational programs.

The law also declares August of every year as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.