Don’t abandon babies, have them adopted – legal expert

With several infants found abandoned in various parts of the country in recent months, a legal expert advises that parents should seek help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other child caring agencies.

A newborn baby boy was found in the rest room of Jagna Public Market on June 8. The baby was rushed to a hospital for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival.

Last May, an infant was also left under a tree in Barangay Bangkal in Makati City.

Another baby was similarly found abandoned along the highway in Purok 18A, Barangay Tomas Cabili in Iligan City.

Residents found the newborn female baby wrapped in a bedsheet with its umbilical cord still attached.

A baby wrapped in banana leaves was also found near a cemetery in Koronadal City.

In Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, Family Law Professor Atty. Gaby Concepcion said that parents could file for temporary placement of the baby until they are better equipped to provide proper care.

“Yung iba kasi iniiwan sa isang tabi, iniiwan sa tricycle, iniiwan nang nakasabit sa puno 'di ba kung ito ay infant. We also discourage that kasi talaga naman nalalagay sa panganib ‘yung isang bata,” Concepcion said.

(Other parents leave their children on sidewalks, tricycles, hanging in a tree if it’s an infant. We also discourage that because a child is really in danger.)

“Pwede naman kasi sa temporary placement ng mga bata kung talagang gipit na gipit ngayon… pwedeng temporary placement muna sa mga child caring agencies or sa DSWD na doon mo muna iintrega yung anak mo… mag titingin din sila within the extended family kasi baka naman may mga relatives who will be willing to take care of the child,” she added.

(Temporary placement of children would be possible if they really do not have the resources… temporary placement in child caring agencies or in the DSWD where you will hand over your child… they must also look within the extended family because there may be relatives who are willing to take care of the child.)

Concepcion, who is also a legal adoption advocate, also pointed out that the government does not want a child to be separated from his parents.

“Dini-discourage din na iwan ang mga bata kasi nga sa ilalim ng batas, requirement talaga na kung nandoon ang parents you really need to assess 'di ba. Kausapin ng maayos kung iyon ba talaga ang gusto nilang gawin,” she said.

(It is also discouraged to leave children, because under the law, it is really a requirement that if the parents are there, you really need to assess. Talk properly if that is really what they want to do.)

Proper adoption process

The DSWD said that if parents really want to have their babies adopted, they could go through a proper adoption process, which has been simplified under Republic Act (RA) 11642 or Domestic Administrative Adoption Act.

Under RA 11642, parents do not have to go to court for the adoption of a child to be legal. The measure also seeks the reorganization of the Inter Country Adoption Board (ICAB) into the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), which will oversee the adoption process.

“Within 60 days I think yung nakalagay sa batas na kinakailangan magkaroon ng decision on the petition for adoption. So, within that period, hopefully kung makukumpleto in accordance with the requirements dapat magkaroon ng desisyon within 60 days,” said Gina Escalante of NACC.

(Within 60 days, I think the law stipulates that it is necessary to have a decision on the petition for adoption. So, within that period, hopefully if completed in accordance with the requirements there should be a decision within 60 days.)

“Ganoon na lang yung period ng decision making. Hindi na po aabutin ng taon,” she added.

(That’s how long the decision making period is. It won’t take a year.)

The DSWD and NACC said that with the new law Filipinos would be encouraged to go through the process of adoption and other forms of caring for children inside childcare facilities.

The two institutions also reminded the public that the children should not just be handed over by biological parents to those who want to adopt their child.  -- Mel Matthew Doctor/BAP, GMA News