Over 2k Filipino children adopted by parents in PH, abroad – NACC

More than 2,000 Filipino children have been adopted by parents here in the Philippines and from other countries, the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) said on Wednesday. 

In a “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” briefing, NACC Assistant Secretary for Operations and Service Rowena Macalintal said out of 5,685 children, 1,655 found new homes here while 481 found new families outside of the Philippines. 

“Iba’t ibang serbisyo po ng NACC na naibigay po natin sa 5,685 na mga batang Pilipino at almost 2,000 po diyan ay napaampon na po natin – 1,655 napaampon po natin through domestic administrative adoption and 481 po ng mga bata na-send out natin for inter-country adoption; sila po ay mayroon ng final decrees ng adoption,” Macalintal said.

(The NACC has provided various services to 5,685 Filipino children, and almost 2,000 of them have already been placed for adoption – 1,655 were adopted through domestic administrative adoption and 481 children were sent out for inter-country adoption; they already have final adoption decrees.) 

“At almost 2,000 din po ng mga bata na natulungan at napagsilbihan po natin sa alternative childcare through our foster care program.”

(And almost 2,000 children were also assisted and served through our alternative childcare foster care program.) 

The NACC was established in 2022 through Republic Act 11642 or the “Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act.” 

It serves as a quasi-judicial body under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with sole and primary authority over all domestic and international adoption proceeding, foster care, and alternative child care arrangements.

Meanwhile, the NACC encouraged the public to consider serving as adoptive or foster families to children who were abandoned, abused, or involuntarily committed. 

EXPLAINER: What you need to know about adoption

“Kung naghahanap po sila ng charitable noble act and deed to society and for our children, pupuwede po silang maging adoptive families, pupuwede rin po silang foster families at pupuwede rin po silang maging partners sa pagpapalaganap po ng iba’t ibang programa ng NACC para po sa mga batang naabandona, para sa mga batang naabuso, para po sa mga batang pinabayaan, para po sa mga orphans, foundlings, para po sa ating mga batang involuntarily committed, sa mga batang surrendered, mga batang walang parental care or at risk of losing parental care,” Macalintal said.

(If they are looking for a charitable, noble act and deed for society and for our children, they can become adoptive families, they can be foster families, or they can become partners in promoting the various NACC programs for children who were abandoned, abused, or neglected; for orphans and foundlings; for children who were involuntarily committed or surrendered; and for children without parental care or at risk of losing it.) 

“As soon as they are assessed eligible for adoption ay hahanapan po natin sila ng pamilyang mag-aalaga at magmamahal at kabibilangan nila,” she added. 

(As soon as they are assessed as eligible for adoption, we will find them a family that will care for them, love them, and where they will truly belong.) 

The agency said it has the mandate to accredit and certify the adoption and alternative childcare programs of social work agencies. 

“Pero ngayon po, kung kayo po ay facility sa Pilipinas na nag-o-operate at nagbibigay ng 24/7 residential care sa mga bata, kayo po ay kinakailangang magpa-accredit para sa adoption and alternative childcare programs and services,” Macalintal said.

(But now, if you are a facility in the Philippines operating and providing 24/7 residential care to children, you are required to get accredited for adoption and alternative childcare programs and services.) 

“Ano po ang impact at ano po ang bearing nito? Kapag sila po ay accredited na, masisiguro po natin na at any point in time na iyon pong mga batang inaalagaan nila, kapag sila po ay nawalan ng magulang at sila po ay na-assess na pupuwedeng mapaampon, sila po ay agad na maaasikaso,” she added. 

(What is the impact and bearing of this? Once they are accredited, we can ensure that at any point in time, those children in their care – should they lose their parents and be assessed as eligible for adoption – can be attended to immediately.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News