Topic(s): Breastfeeding, Maternal nutrition, Maternity Protection, Research
Location: East Asia Pacific
Language(s): English
Audience: Policy makers and legislators, Program designers and implementers
Programs: Policy advocacy, Strategic use of data

In the Philippines, workers in the informal economy are not guaranteed paid maternity leave. A non‐contributory maternity cash transfer to informal sector workers could improve social equity, economic productivity, and public health and nutrition through supporting breastfeeding. Using a costing framework developed in Mexico the study estimates the program’s annual costs would range from a minimum scenario of USD42 million (14‐week maternity cash transfer) to a more ideal scenario of USD309 million (26‐week maternity cash transfer). The latter is financially feasible, making up less than .1% of the country’s GDP and far lower than the cost of not breastfeeding, making up .7% of the GDP.