Breastfeeding-Friendly Companies in the Philippines Part 2

“I produce milk. What’s YOUR superpower?”

If the Green Lantern had his ring, and Capt. Barbell had his barbell, then what do working nursing mothers have? Their breast milk. Still, without the support of their employers, these super mommies would not be able to continuously provide nourishment for their kids.

Because of the positive response Smart Parenting Online received with the article Six Breastfeeding-Friendly Companies in the Philippines, we feel encouraged to compile this second batch of companies nursing mothers love :

 

Hewlett Packard
A leading solutions provider in the Philippines, Hewlett Packard, or HP, has one lactation room in each of their two sites. The rooms are fully-equipped with a refrigerator, a table, chairs and an electric outlet. Mia, who is currently breastfeeding her 10-month-old baby, credits management for her successful breastfeeding experience. They work on a flexible time schedule which allows her to manage her workload at her own pace and nurse in between. Early this year, Mia had a bout of mastitis, a breast infection, and had to nurse from one breast double time. The infection necessitated that she hand-express the affected breast and throw away the milk. Though painful, she persevered, and returned to nursing on both breasts in no time.

Asian Development Bank
The ADB is a major source of development financing in the Asia and Pacific regions. In support of their breastfeeding employees, they have one nursing room called the ‘Expression Room’ at their headquarters in Mandaluyong. It has two chairs, a table, electrical outlets, a sink, and an electric airpot continuously stocked with hot water. Sygrid, currently breastfeeding her 10-month-old son, says that the room is often mistaken for a “venting” room where stressed employees go to because of its name. A sign also had to be placed on the refrigerator door that it should only be used to store breast milk, since some employees place their lunch boxes in it, thinking that it’s the common ref.

Manila City Hall
The governing body of the City of Manila, the Manila City Hall has one nursing room conveniently located at the first floor. It is a basic room with tables, chairs and a ref.  Ernalyn is very thankful of the breastfeeding facility as she is one of the primary users of the nursing room.

Trend Micro
A leading provider for network antivirus and Internet software and security services, Trend Micro's Ortigas office is a nursing mom haven. It has one nursing room with a refrigerator, phone, hand sanitizer --- oh, and did I mention the two La-Z-Boys? Poala, who has been breastfeeding her little one for eleven months, mentions that her boss allows her to pump and work at the same time. It’s a good thing her breastpump, the Medela Swing, is very handy that she can pump while in her workstation. She laughingly recalls that a male officemate once approached her to ask a question, not knowing she was pumping. Probably noticing her awkward position, he asked her what she was doing. The officemate walked away red-faced when she told him she was expressing milk under her shawl.

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Chevron Philippines Inc.
The marketing arm of Caltex fuels, lubricants and petroleum products, Chevron’s large network of service stations, terminals and sales offices make them a force to reckon with. The company, which has its head office in Makati, has one lactation room called the 'Mother’s Room'. Recently renovated to provide more space to nursing moms, it has a personal refrigerator, chairs, radio and cabinets. According to C and N (not their real names), it can accommodate up to three nursing mothers at a time, without posing an issue on privacy since there are curtains to subdivide the room.

The Coca-Cola Export Corporation
A global leader in the beverage industry, The Coca-Cola Export Corporation (TCCEC) has one lactation room called the ‘Isolation Room’. Primarily a nursing room, it is also a room where employees can take a breather from a busy day in the office. It has a table, a comfortable chair and electrical outlets. Associates use the common refrigerator located in the pantry to store milk, but due to the firm resolve of nursing mothers like Rachel, the company has now provided a personal ref to be used exclusively for storing breastmilk. Rachel is exclusively breastfeeding her one-year-old son, so it is a blessing that management allows nursing mothers to work on flexible time schedules to include nursing times. Her colleagues are also supportive of breastfeeding so she is able to nurse while attending meetings and workshops without any qualms.

Lawson Software
Lawson Software, an affiliate of Infor Global Solutions, is a company which focuses on IT services, technical support, and software research and development. Each of their two sites, including their Global City head office in Taguig, has one lactation room, lovingly called 'Moms Room' where there's a table, chairs, electrical outlets, refrigerator, and frosted glass for a mom's privacy.

Upon learning of the RA approval, Ira, from Human Resources, along with the HR Director and Facilities and Services Team, pushed for the creation of the lactation room. When management announced that there will be Moms Room, they got an overwhelming response from employees, most especially from dads who jokingly informed them that they wanted their own Dads room too. Moms also like the flexible time schedule that Lawson offers as an option to its working mothers.  Ira is looking forward to using the Moms Room in the future.

The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, or RA 10028, is a government directive for employers to provide lactation rooms for employees who are nursing mothers and allow them appropriate periods to express milk. Companies who comply with this law get tax incentives upon certification by the Department of Health.


Sources:
Babymama
Chronicles of a Nursing Mom
Liezl Azucena–Jose
Hewlett Packard
Trend Micro
The Coca-Cola Export Corporation
Manila City Hall
Asian Development Bank
Chevron Philippines Inc.

Photo from flickr.com