Breastfeeding Marikina moms get relief goods from city gov't

Breastfeeding mothers in Marikina City are not able to feed their babies with breastmilk due to the stress amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

According to Maki Pulido's 24 Oras report on Monday, Marianne delos Santos can't help but worry for her two-month-old baby as she has no more means of feeding him milk.

"Umiiyak na lang po kasi siyempre ang hirap makita na 'yong bata umiiyak tapos wala kang maipagatas," she said.

Meanwhile, Christine San Jose said she just feeds her one-year-old baby with water to assuage his hunger.

"Nakakaiyak, ganoon na lang po maipapadede namin,” she said.

With this, Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro earlier handed out relief goods containing milk, fruits, vegetables, and meat for them to be able to feed their children with nutritious food.

Teodoro said they found out about the mothers' situation via social media.

"Sabi sa amin ng DOH, ine-encourage at mandatory ang breastfeeding pero sa ganitong crisis, 'di natin maiiwasan na magbigay ng formula. Binibigyan din natin ng mga masustansyang pagkain," he said.

Teodoro added the local government had volunteers monitoring residents' appeal on social media.

Through the volunteer group, the LGU discovered more than 70 residents who had sought help amid the quarantine. Thirty of the 70 were lactating mothers.

Teodoro said they continued to distribute relief goods to help residents cope up with the situation.

In Barangay Tumana, residents were given rice from the city government.

Meanwhile, Teodoro said the distribution of the financial aid under the national government's social amelioration program began on Thursday.

He added the city government would look for ways to provide financial assistance to those who were not qualified to receive the social amelioration aid from the national government. —  Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News