By BNN Integrated News
A simple act of generosity can save a newborn’s life.
That message took center stage as SM City Batangas became home to CALABARZON’s seventh Human Milk Depot, making donor breast milk more accessible to babies who need it most.
The facility was officially launched during HAKAB’ TA 2026, bringing together more than 100 breastfeeding mothers in a region-wide milk donation drive.
Since the program began, nearly 600 mothers have donated breast milk, helping nourish around 4,000 infants throughout CALABARZON.
The new depot is the result of a partnership among the Batangas City Government, Batangas Medical Center, SM Cares, and SM City Batangas, creating another safe collection point for donated human milk.
For premature babies and infants with medical conditions, donor breast milk can be life-changing. It provides vital nutrients and antibodies that support healthy growth while lowering the risk of infections and other complications.
Mayor Marvey Mariño, Batangas Medical Center Director Dr. Tess Torio, SM Cares Program Director Atty. Pearly Joan Turley, and SM Supermalls representative Juan Marius Cortez formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement.
Why it matters
Every additional Human Milk Depot makes breastfeeding support more accessible and strengthens the healthcare system for mothers and newborns. It also highlights how partnerships between hospitals, local governments, and private companies can improve child health in communities.|
