DSWD offices to put up adoption help desks

MANILA, Philippines - Acting Social Welfare and Development Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco has directed all DSWD regional directors to set up adoption help desks in their respective areas to provide free consultation to prospective adoptive parents who want to seek advice on adoption procedures.

Capadocia-Yangco said the establishment of adoption help desks is in line with the annual celebration of the Adoption Consciousness Week from Feb. 6 to 13.

Capadocia-Yangco also instructed regional directors to hold forums on the benefits of legal adoption and the negative effects of “simulation.”

President Arroyo signed last year Republic Act 9523 requiring the certification of the DSWD to declare a child legally available for adoption.

The law hastens the adoption process of abandoned or neglected children, including infants.

Under RA 9523, the period before a child is considered abandoned has been shortened from six to three months, Capadocia-Yangco said.

The authority to declare a child abandoned and free for adoption has also been transferred from the courts to the DSWD.

Former DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said it is expected that there will be an increase in the number of children declared legally free for adoption and in the number of children placed for adoption.

In 2008, the DSWD facilitated the processing of domestic adoption cases of some 2,000 children, while the Inter-Country Adoption Board placed more than 500 children for inter-country adoption.

The observance of Adoption Consciousness Week is based on Proclamation No. 72 signed on Feb. 3, 1999. 

This year’s theme is “Isulong! Legal na Pag-aampon, Hindi Simulation.”