QuestionsQuestions (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2005-0014)
It cites declining under-five mortality but persistent malnutrition and related risks. It references NDHS findings (1993, 1998, 2003) showing underweight and stunting, low early initiation of breastfeeding, low exclusive breastfeeding rates, and inappropriate complementary feeding practices.
Article XV, Section 3 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which mandates the State to defend the right of children to assistance including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other prejudicial conditions.
To improve the survival of infants and young children by improving their nutritional status, growth and development through optimal feeding.
(1) All newborns initiated to breastfeeding within one hour after birth; (2) all infants exclusively breastfed for 6 months; (3) all infants given timely, adequate and safe complementary foods; and (4) breastfeeding continued up to two years and beyond.
It covers the whole health sector—government and private—plus professional groups, private sector, LGUs, and other stakeholders at all levels nationwide.
Breastfeeding must be initiated within one hour after birth. All medically trained personnel (doctors, nurses, midwives, and other birth attendants) must ensure newborns are supported to early initiation, and all facilities in the health delivery system must ensure it occurs within one hour.
Exclusive breastfeeding means giving breastmilk alone and no other foods or drinks, not even water, except vitamins and medicine drops.
Breastfeeding should continue as frequent and on demand up to two years of age and beyond, even though breastmilk volume declines as complementary foods are added.
Timely: introduced when energy/nutrient needs exceed exclusive frequent breastfeeding. Adequate: provides sufficient energy, protein, and micronutrients. Safe: hygienically stored/prepared and fed with clean hands using clean utensils, not bottles/teats/artificial nipples. Properly fed: consistent with appetite/satiety signals; suitable meal frequency and feeding method (encouraging child to consume sufficient food, including during illness).
At age six months, because the need for energy and nutrients exceeds what can be provided through exclusive and frequent breastfeeding.
For safe complementary feeding, it states infants should not be fed using bottles and teats or artificial nipples. In exceptionally difficult circumstances, it further recommends that bottles and teats should never be distributed and their use discouraged, with cup feeding encouraged instead.
It lists priority targets: Universal Vitamin A supplementation for infants/children 6–11 months; iron supplementation for pregnant/lactating women, low birth weight babies, and children 6–11 months (and also anemic/underweight children 1–5 years); and iodine supplementation for women of reproductive age, school-age children, and adult males where specific goiter/urinary iodine thresholds apply. It is based on DOH Administrative Order No. 119 s. 2003 (Updated Guidelines on Micronutrient supplementation).
Families are encouraged and educated to use iodized salt when preparing food for older infants and young children.
Consistent with avoiding conflicts of interest, the DOH shall not forge partnerships with manufacturers and distributors of infant formula, milk supplements, complementary foods, feeding bottles/teats, and related products.
The general hierarchy is: (a) breastfeeding (first and best); then (b) expressed breastmilk fed by cup; (c) breastfeeding from a healthy wet nurse; (d) human milk from a milk bank fed by cup; and (e) infant formula (preferably generically labeled) fed by cup.
Donations of breastmilk substitutes, feeding bottles, teats, and commercial baby foods should be limited (if not refused). If needed, breastmilk substitutes should not be part of a general distribution—only to infants with clear need, and only for as long as the infant need them (until a maximum of 1 year or until breastfeeding is re-established). Bottles/teats should never be distributed and use discouraged; cup feeding should be encouraged.
It requires counseling for all HIV-infected mothers, including general information about meeting their nutritional requirements and the risks/benefits of various feeding options, plus specific guidance to select the option most likely to be suitable for their situation. Supported feeding options include exclusive breastfeeding, wet-nursing, expressing and heat-treating breastmilk, breastmilk from banks, commercial infant formula, and home modified animal milk.
Repealing clause: Any existing provisions of DC 76-A s. 1992 (Guidelines on Rooming-in, BF and Breastmilk Feeding) or issuances inconsistent with the order are repealed. Effectivity: The order takes effect immediately.