ABANDONED children in Davao City may now benefit from faster adoption process under Republic Act (RA) 9523 or "Declaration of a Child Legally Available for Adoption."

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Davao Region conducted Thursday a forum informing stakeholders in the city of the provision, which is now fully implemented in the city, said Social Welfare Officer Raquele Nuñez through phone interview.

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RA 9523, which was signed into law on March 12, allows an easier adoption process of the abandoned and neglected children as it discards court proceedings in processing the adoption of a child, which were expensive and taxing.

"Through this law, napapadali na ang pag declare ng abandonment kasi ang DSWD na lang ang magfa-facilitate. Once na-declare na ang abandonment, mas mapapadali na rin ang adoption process ng mga bata," Nuñez said.

The new law only requires a certification from the DSWD to declare that a child has been abandoned, surrendered and neglected and is already eligible for adoption, a task formerly handled by the Family Court, Nuñez said.

"Administrative na ang nature ng process at hindi na rin mahirap sa mga bata kasi hindi na kailangan dadaan pa sa court. But the decision is still under the secretary of DSWD. She will be the one to sign the certificate declaring abandonment," Nuñez said.

Under RA 9523, a child who is eligible for adoption is someone who has been deserted or neglected by a parent for a straight three-month period, which is shorter than the present six-month grace period provided for the government agency to locate the child's parents or guardian.

The decision of the DSWD secretary to certify a child as abandoned and eligible for adoption can be appealed to the Court of Appeals within five days from the receipt of the decision by the petitioner, otherwise the same shall be final.

The law is a consolidation of Senate Bill 2391 authored by Senators Aquilino Pimentel, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Loren Legarda, and House Bill 10 authored by Representative Jose Carlos Lacson. (Jade C. Zaldivar)