February 15-21 marks the commemoration of the Adoption Consciousness Week. The celebration with the theme “Legal na pag-aampon sa lahat ng pagkakataon (Legal adoption at every opportunity),” aims to enhance and educate the public about legal adoption.

DSWD defines adoption as a “socio-legal process of providing a permanent family to a child whose parents have voluntarily or involuntarily relinquished parental authority over the child.”

DSWD Director Arnel Garcia explained that neglected, abused, abandoned and children with special needs are legally available for adoption. A child who has had no parental care for at least 6 months is declared as an abandoned child.

Garcia also said that homeless orphans are most vulnerable to hunger, illness and crimes thus potentially stunting not only their physical growth but also their over-all development.

The Philippine Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 or Republic Act 8552 established the rules for adoption.
Qualifications for domestic adoption:
• A Filipino citizen of legal age.
• Not convicted in any crime involving “moral turpitude”
• Capable of caring for children (emotionally, psychologically, financially)
• At least 16 years older than the adopted child.

For non-Filipinos with the above qualifications, they may still adopt as long as they have been living in the Philippines for 3 years prior to the adoption application. They must be certified by their home country of having the legal capacity for adoption. Legal adoption offers security and ensures the best interest of the child.

Several activities have been lined-up for the week’s event. It was started by a motorcade, a launching program. Adoption Help Desks were set-up in the different big malls in the cities of Naga, Legazpi, Sorsogon and Masbate. This is to provide information on adoption. Radio guesting was also part of the activity with testimonies from adoptive parents. The week’s celebration will be highlighted with a symposium on Adoption with the social work students and a session with Adoptive Parents named; Sharing A Different Kind of Love.# # #eejerusalem