Legazpi City—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region V conducted a two-day dialogue with family court judges in Bicol about adoption last August 8-9, 2018 at Casablanca Hotel.
The Protective Services Division through the Adoption Resource and Referral Section (ARRS) discussed the domestic and inter-country adoption process to the court social workers, clerk of court and Regional Trial Court judges.
A workshop ensued thereafter to gather agreements and recommendations to address issues on adoption cases. This meeting also wanted to strengthen partnerships with courts handling the adoption process and align these procedures in accordance to rules and guidelines.
Assistant Regional Director for Administration Lorna Rebanal said that the results reaped from the consultation are for the best interest and welfare of the children subject for adoption.
“We will also use the family courts’ recommendations to ensure speedy adoption process because we want these children in need to have proper and permanent parental care and entitle them with rights similar to the biological children,” Rebanal added.
The DSWD Central Office representatives were also present to document policy recommendations with Dir. Bernadette Abejo of Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB).
Moreover, Secretary Virginia N. Orogo reiterated that the importance of legal adoption is to prevent birth simulation that deprives adopted children to know their identity and to break the stigma that legal adoption is only for people who can afford the process.
Based on the ARRS data, 178 children were declared legally available for adoption in Bicol from 2009 to present; 42 of which are placed for domestic adoption while 117 children are cleared for inter-country adoption.
Adoption as an alternative parental care program is one of the statutory programs of the DSWD for abandoned and neglected children as guided by Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8552, the Domestic Adoption Act; R.A. No. An Act Authorizing the Secretary of DSWD to issue a Certification Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA).
Recently, the DSWD Regional Directors have the authority to issue Pre-Adoption Placement Authority, Affidavit of Consent to Adoption and Inter-Country Adoption Matching Clearance
Any interested individuals may seek DSWD’s free services. For those who want to adopt, they can visit DSWD Region V ARRS located at Buraguis, Legazpi City or may call (052) 8201309. However, applicants are advised that they need to spend a considerable amount on legal services and documentary requirements in line with the adoption process.
DSWD Social workers attend to local adoption cases either through walk-in applicants or courts order received from the Regional Trial Courts and referrals from local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs) for technical assistance.