A DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official said legal adoption has been “simpler” with the change in its legalities and processes.
Eden Macalino, Social Welfare Officer II of DSWD’s Regional Alternative Child Care Office (Racco), said that with the passage of Republic Act (RA) 11642, also known as Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, legal adoption is now “inexpensive and simpler”.
From the transition of legal adoption procedure from the judiciary to administrative, the DSWD formed Racco, which is tasked to manage legal adoption processes and abandoned children’s foster care and children’s well-being. Before RA 11642, the local courts intervene in the adoption processes.
“Nagsugod ta’g (we started with the) transition [to adopt the new legal adoption law] since January 3, [2023] so ang atong mga applicants nagdagsa gyud (there are an influx of applicants), as of now we have seven cases na forwarded na sa National Authority for Child Care and are waiting for the issuance of Order of Adoption,” Macalino said.
“This time daghan na kaayo tag mga adoptive applicants nga naga-visit sa atong office to apply for the adoption, so karon daghan pod tag mga applicants na naga-attend sa atong mga scheduled orientation every third Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. sa DSWD compound,” Macalino said.
“Ang atong mga applicants are coming from tibuok region sa Davao from five provinces ga-visit sila sa atong office once every month, for our orientation,” she added.
She said that those who want to legally adopt must attend DSWD orientation held every third Monday of the month at DSWD Davao Region Compound, R. Magsaysay Avenue cor. D. Suazo, Davao City.
After the orientation, further steps will be discussed and will be done, which include the application of adoptive parents, assessment of DSWD social workers’ willingness of adoptive parents, matching processes, and placement of children or a legal adult to its prospective parents to establish a relationship between them.
Then, a petition will be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in local newspapers. Then, legal documents will be processed at the Racco Main office in Manila. Once an Order of Adoption and Certificate of Finality will be issued, the issuance of birth certificates from the Local Civil Registrar will be handed in to officially declare them legally adoptive parents. ICE