Manila: As part of its duty as the lead agency in promoting the protection and rights of children, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday urged the public to participate in the observance of the Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week (AACCW) from June 8 to 14. 'The AACCW is not just a celebration, but a profound reminder for us that a family does not begin with shared blood, but with shared love. It is built through a greater understanding and unwavering commitment that every child deserves the warmth of a home where they receive protection, care, and unconditional love,' DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a statement Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the annual observance of the AACCW, which is every second week of June, is mandated under Republic Act (RA) 11642 or the 'Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act.' This celebration is dedicated to promoting legal adoption and alternative childcare to benefit Filipino children awaiting permanent placement in loving homes. With the theme, 'Love Makes a Family,' the observance is led by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), a quasi-judicial agency attached to DSWD.

In support of the celebration, the DSWD and the NACC continue to hold regional consultations in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) High-Level Meeting on Strengthening Alternative Family-Based Care Systems, slated for September. The regional consultations aim to strengthen programs, services, and interventions to strengthen family ties to avert child separation from their primary caregivers; expand adoption and foster care systems; family reunification and transitioning children in alternative care options to deinstitutionalize them from residential care facilities; and promoting cross-border collaboration for child protection.

The discussions from the activity will generate inputs towards developing a National Action Plan on Enhancing Alternative Family-Based Care Systems.