Lawmaker: Simplified adoption process to benefit abused or neglected children

A lawmaker on Wednesday welcomed the the release of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, which eases the adoption process.

Republic Act 11642 mandates that the adoption process for all adoption cases, which include non-relatives, relatives within the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity, and cases of adult adoption, be an administrative proceeding.

The law authorizes the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to issue adoption creeds without the need for judicial procedures, which cuts costs for intending adoptive parents, provides better chances for children needing adoption, and eases the case load on courts.

"Through RA 11642, we are correcting age-old problems in adoption—which typically took years to resolve. The previous law, RA 8552 (Domestic Adoption Act of 1998), required a set of procedures—while founded on good intention—that often lead to emotional and financial strains on parties involved, not to mention clogging of cases in courts," Northern Samar Representative Paul Daza said.

''Not only are we building better chances for families and children, we are also ensuring clear procedures for helping abused or neglected children. Children in these circumstances need the society's concerted efforts,'' he added.

Daza said the law would also benefit children who live with their parents but ''sadly have to experience deep emotional and physical pain on a day-to-day basis.''

"This legislation is also for them [children in unhappy homes]. We do not only wish to match prospective parents with prospective children; we also wish to ensure that all Filipino children are living in homes that are truly safe and loving," Daza said.

The Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act also prohibits labeling, shaming, bullying, and other discriminatory acts that might be committed against adopted children.

"We are taking this seriously because we truly understand the long-term effects of bullying and shaming in a world that is sometimes harsh," Daza said. —Llanesca Panti/VBL, GMA Integrated News