DOST discourages donating infant formula, baby bottles to Taal relief efforts

Amid calls for donations to help the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption, the Department of Science and Technology IV-A said that donating infant formula and feeding bottles is prohibited and that the use of these could harm babies' health.

“As much as we want to feed these little babies, let us put in mind that the Philippine Milk Code (Executive Order 51) ‘prohibits donations of infant formula, breastmilk substitutes, feeding bottles, artificial nipples and teats during emergencies,’” the department said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“The law bans indiscriminate distribution of these products as they put infants at greater risk of illness and death,” it added.

The post did not say what alternative sustenance is available to babies in evacuation centers.

GMA News Online has reached out to the DOST and the Department of Health for comment.

On Wednesday, the Batangas government called for donations of feeding bottles, which was posted on its public information office Facebook page. 

In its post, the DOST IV-A said that clean water is not available in times of disaster. Due to this, the bottles cannot be cleaned.

“Congestion and lack of toilet facilities in evacuation centres make for extremely harsh environments," it added.

Health Secretary Eric Domingo also said the same.

“Hindi advisable ang formula milk in any situation. Lalo na ‘pag calamity kasi hindi sure ang cleanliness ng water supply at mahirap mag-sterilize ng bottles,” he said. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News