Manila: The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) is expanding partnerships with local government units (LGUs), accelerating the administrative adoption process, and intensifying efforts against illegal adoption and online baby-selling to better protect vulnerable children, an official said on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, NACC Assistant Secretary for Operations and Services Rowena Macalintal, in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, stated that the agency continues to promote adoption and alternative child care through its annual Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week. This event, now in its fourth year, is held simultaneously across the NACC's 16 regional offices and central office.
Macalintal emphasized that Filipinos can contribute by becoming adoptive or foster parents or by partnering with NACC in programs for abandoned, abused, neglected children, orphans, foundlings, surrendered children, and those without or at risk of losing parental care. She added that once children are assessed as eligible for adoption, efforts are made to find families who will care for and love them.
The critical role of LGUs in pre-adoption work was underscored by Macalintal. The NACC has signed memoranda of agreement with more than 100 LGUs and mayors as of 2025 to make adoption and alternative child care services more accessible at the grassroots level. Macalintal expressed hope that from 2026 onwards, more partnerships with mayors across the Philippines will be established to implement the administrative process of adoption, alternative childcare, and foster care programs.
Despite being a relatively new agency, the NACC has been given an expanded mandate to accredit and certify adoption and alternative child care programs of all social work agencies and facilities providing 24/7 residential care to children. Over the past three years, 1,655 children have been adopted under the administrative adoption system, with all adoptees monitored and issued certificates of finality and amended birth certificates.
Macalintal reported that 481 children, mostly older children, those with disabilities, or sibling groups, were adopted through inter-country adoption in 17 partner countries, while 1,089 children are currently under the foster care program. More than 800 foster children receive monthly subsidies, depending on their health conditions.
The shift from judicial to administrative adoption has significantly increased adoption outcomes, with 1,655 orders of adoption issued in the past three years, making the process more affordable and faster. The NACC requires no adoption fees, lawyers, only licensed social workers, and for meritorious cases, adoption orders can be issued within nine months.
On child protection, Macalintal said the NACC is working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Project "Keeping a Sexually Abuse Free Environment" or SAFE for child victims and survivors of online sexual abuse and exploitation. The NACC chairs the committee against illegal adoption within the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
Offering or selling children constitutes trafficking or illegal adoption, with penalties ranging from six years' imprisonment to life imprisonment. The NACC, in partnership with the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, has flagged and monitored online baby-selling activities, conducting 11 entrapment operations and one successful prosecution, while also seeking the takedown of online platforms used for illegal adoption schemes.
Macalintal appealed to parents unable to care for their children not to resort to selling or abandoning them, reminding them of the legal mechanism to surrender children. The DSWD, LGU facilities, or private child-caring agencies can care for these children, while the NACC will process them for adoption through the proper and legal process.
