Bohol-Panglao International Airport Opens Breastfeeding Station, Kids' Play Area

Heading to Bohol with your family soon? Your travel experience will be different, especially if you are a breastfeeding mom with your toddlers in tow!

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has opened a breastfeeding station and kids' play area at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA)'s pre-departure area on Tuesday, January 23. 

Bohol airport opens breastfeeding station, kids play area

The addition of these necessary facilities to the busy terminal in this Bohol airport offers a comfortable space for breastfeeding mothers, as well as a fun place for children to play before their flights, according to CAAP Area 7 manager, Atty. Rafael Tatlonghari.

The play space is adorned with colorful murals with popular cartoon characters, and furnished with rocking horses, slides, and activity tables. 

The lactation station, meanwhile, has guidelines for use, to keep it clean and safe at all times. The new amenity has comfortable seats, privacy enclosures, and access to bottled water and sanitary facilities, Aviation Updates PH reports.

According to the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, all private enterprises, government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations should provide lactation stations for new moms. It is among the provisions of the law that promotes breastfeeding, and normalizes breastfeeding in public places.

For those who want to use the area, passengers can approach the airport staff. 

The project was initiated by the airport's Gender and Development (GAD) Committee, with the goal of providing efficient and comfortable travel experiences for its passengers, especially mothers and kids.

The inclusion of these helpful amenities is not new for BPIA; in 2018, it was recognized as the first eco-friendly airport in the country, with its use of green and sustainable structures like solar panels.

Breastfeeding-friendly airports in other countries

In the United States, a law called Friendly Airport for Mothers Act (FAM) mandates that all large- and medium-sized airports should have clean and safe lactation rooms in every terminal. 

Here are some of the best airports for breastfeeding mothers, according to The Bump:

1. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
2. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
4. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
5. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Hopefully, more airports in the Philippines will open their own breastfeeding stations soon.

Pinay moms shared their favorite breastfeeding stations in Metro Manila malls here.