'Breast is best!' Hundreds of mothers in the Philippines take to the streets to simultaneously breastfeed their children to promote the health benefits
Filipino mothers have bared their chests in an event to promote and raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding.
Around 500 breastfeeding mothers attended the 'Hakab Na! 2016' event in Pasig City, east of Manila, on Saturday.
The fourth annual event of 'Hakab', which means to cling tightly to the body, was organised by non-government organisation Breastfeeding Pinays.
Mothers proudly breastfed their children while holding up signs such as 'breast is best', 'new generation mums love breastfeeding' and 'breastfeeding is nation building'.
One mother said she was proud to have breastfed her daughter for more than three years.
The event is being held in celebration of the Philippine's National Breastfeeding Awareness month held in August.
Breastfeeding is protected by various laws in the Philippines, which grants mothers the right to breastfeed in public and taking breastfeeding breaks at work.
While UNICEF and the World Health Organisation promotes exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, only 34 per cent of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed.
Pro-breastfeeding groups have protested against the rise of breast milk substitutes, such as baby milk formulas.
The Milk Code of the Philippines prohibits the advertising of infant formula or bottle teats for infants under two years old.
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