Spread love through legal adoption
ADOPTION Consciousness Day is observed annually pursuant to Proclamation No. 72 to raise awareness of adoption and to generate public support for adoptive parenthood. This year’s observance on February 11, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has the theme, “Pagmamahal Palaganapin, Legal na Pag-Ampon Ating Gawin” (Spread Love through Legal Adoption). DSWD is encouraging Filipino families to open their hearts and homes to abandoned and neglected children legally available for adoption.
Adoption is the “socio-legal process of providing a permanent family to a child whose parents have voluntarily relinquished parental authority over the child.” DSWD provides adoption counseling services for adoptive families, adoptee, and biological parents who voluntarily gave up their parental authority, through its Adoption Resources and Referral Unit in its main and regional offices. Its primary consideration in choosing an adoption parent is the capability to raise a child.
During Adoption Consciousness Day, DSWD sets up adoption help desks in malls to provide information on adoption such as process, requirements, benefits, and effects. It partners with the Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines, the Council for the Welfare of Children, and the Inter-Country Adoption Board.
Adoption is recognized as a tool to protect and uphold the rights of a child as mandated by United Nations Children’s Fund’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the Philippines, there is no distinction between an adopted child and a biological child because their rights are the same. An adopted child is given the same love as a biological child. Three laws govern the adoption process in the country: Republic Act (RA) 8552, the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998; RA 8043, establishing the rules to govern inter-country adoption of Filipino children; and RA 9523, requiring the Certification of the DSWD to declare a child legally available for adoption as a pre-requisite for adoption proceedings.
There are over two million orphans in the country and legal adoption is the best way to provide a home for orphaned, abandoned, or neglected children who need the love, care, and protection of a family. Adoptive parents enjoy the blessing and happiness of caring for a child.
Children up for adoption are those who are neglected, abandoned, or those who are in child care institutions like in Reception Study Center and Helping Hands or those who have special needs. Adoption consent is needed for children aged 10 and above. Social workers prepare case reports on both adopters and adoptees prior to a confidential court hearing. After a six-month supervised trial custody to see if both parties can adjust to each other, the court may grant the adoption petition, and the Civil Registry may issue an amended birth certificate.