LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (PIA) — Town officials led the turnover of 173 bags of breastmilk collected during a human milk donation drive here on February 3.

Spearheaded by the Laguna Human Milk Bank (LHMB) and the non-profit Lactation Attachment Training Counseling Hub (LATCH) Los Baños, the event aims to collect sufficient breastmilk to be given to babies and mothers in need.

Present during the event was Mayor Anthony Genuino, Vice Mayor Josephine Sumangil - Evangelista, municipal councilors, and other LGU officials.

According to Mayor Genuino, he believes in the importance of breastfeeding and the health benefits it provides to infants’ nutrition.

The chief executive added that he supports the strengthening of partnership and collaboration between the Municipal Nutrition Action Office, Municipal Health Office, and Gender and Development Office, and LATCH Los Baños to advance the causes of children and mothers’ health.

Vice Mayor Sumangil-Evangelista also lauded the generosity of breastfeeding mothers who donated their breastmilk for a good cause.

Launched in December 2022, the LHMB provides lactation education and mother-to-mother breastfeeding counseling services. The milk facility is under the supervision of LATCH Los Baños.

Currently, the milk bank is actively participating in Project B.R.E.A.S.T. (Breastfeeding as Response to Emergencies made more Accessible through Science and Technology) community-engaged human milk bank, which is a tripartite partnership between the Provincial Government of Laguna, LATCH Los Baños, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

To those who would want to donate their breastmilk or to inquire about other services being offered by LATCH, they may directly message the organization via Facebook. (CH/PIA- Laguna)