Quezon province opens first human milk bank

LUCENA, Quezon, Philippines — The provincial government of Quezon yesterday opened its first human milk bank at the Quezon Provincial Hospital Network-Quezon Medical Center (QPHN-QMC), to strengthen local breastfeeding support and infant nutrition program.

The facility will collect, screen, process, store and distribute donated breast milk to infants who need additional nutrition, particularly newborns whose mothers are unable to provide them sufficient breast milk.

The facility is the 43rd human milk bank in the country, and the fourth in Calabarzon.

Although the inauguration was conducted only yesterday, the milk bank at QPHN-QMC has been operating since 2024, allowing mothers to donate their excess breast milk to infants in need.

During the ceremony, Quezon Gov. Angelina Helen recognized and thanked organizations and people who are behind the establishment of the milk bank as well as the donors of human milk.

Tan said the provincial government is committed to expanding healthcare programs that promote the health and welfare of residents.

She urged local government units and other sectors to support milk donation initiatives, so that more breast milk can be collected and made available to babies.

Meanwhile, medical equipment including a ventilator, infant warmer and incubator were turned over to the QPHN-QMC, specifically for the hospital’s new neo-natal emergency care unit.

The inauguration of the milk bank was led by Quezon health officer Kristin Mae-Jean Villaseñor and QPHN-QMC chief of hospital Juan Eugenio Fidel Villanueva.

Estrella Olonan-Jusi, president of the Human Milk Bank Association of the Philippines, and Jellie Anne Palencia, Department of Health-Calabarzon nutrition and breastfeeding program manager, were among the guests of the event.