Caloocan LGU to provide alternative livelihood for home birth attendants
By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo "Along" Malapitan announced on Tuesday, Oct. 11, that the local government will give alternative livelihood to traditional home birth attendants.
“Mahigpit pa rin pong ipinagpapabawal ang home births sa ating lungsod. Batid natin na kabuhayan niyo po ito, kaya’t sinisikap ng ating administrasyon na makapaglaan ng panibagong mga oportunidad o pagkakakitaan para sa inyo (Home births are still strictly prohibited in the city. We're aware that this is your livelihood, that is why our administration is trying to provide new opportunities and sources of income for you),” Malapitan said during a meeting held at Bulwagan Katipunan, Caloocan City Hall.
Under City Ordinance No. 0642 S2016, only all skilled health professionals in the city are allowed to deliver childbirth in health facilities, prohibiting homebirths and traditional birth attendance.
Malapitan noted that the city government remains committed to enforce the said city ordinance.
He assured the birth attendants, also known as "hilot", that the city government has programs that can alter their source of income.
“Maaari po kayong mag-enroll sa ating Caloocan City Manpower Training Center para matuto po kayo ng bagong skills o malinang pa ang inyong kaalaman. Sa ngayon, sisikapin po ng pamahalaan na magbigay pansamantala ng livelihood package na inyong pagkukunan ng kabuhayan (You can enroll in Caloocan City Manpower Training Center so you can learn new skills or cultivate your knowledge. Right now, the government will try to provide a temporary livelihood package that will give you a source of livelihood),” Malapitan added.
Among the attendees during the meeting were chairpersons of different barangays in the city, representatives from the City Health Department (CHD) and its officer-in-charge, Dra. Evelyn Cuevas, to outline and draft the updated implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the said ordinance.
Hilot is a person called to assist a woman during pregnancy, labor, or after childbirth delivery.