THE Regional Alternative Child Care Office (Racco) 7 declared on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, that 84 children have found their “forever families.”
In celebration of the Adoption and Alternative Childcare Week (AACW) 2025, the Racco 7 conducted a mall activity to promote public awareness on legal adoption and alternative childcare while also reducing the stigma around legal adoption.
Data from Racco 7 shows that 166 children are legally available for adoption through the Certification Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption.
Public awareness
Racco 7 officer-in-charge Conception Solera said their goal is to promote public awareness on legal adoption and alternative care as well as shorten the process of adoption from three to seven years down to six to nine months.
“Our target is to finish adoption six to nine months and an order for adoption will be issued,” she said.
She added that the event was also an opportunity to encourage families to open their doors to children in need and consider legal adoption.
No one left behind
National Authority for Child Care Undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada underscored the importance of providing children who have been orphaned, abandoned and abused with stable families.
Estrada said no child should be left behind.
One of the key highlights of the event was the ringing of the “bell of joy,” symbolizing the children’s official adoption and the new chapter with their forever families.
The second week of June in the Philippines has been designated as the AACW, according to Republic Act 11642, which is focused on promoting legal adoption and alternative child care for Filipino children. / NECOLYN CLAIRE BALANSAG AND ANTONETTE ARRABIS, CNU INTERNS