Manila: The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) has highlighted the simplified adoption process as it underscored the importance of raising public awareness on the shift from judicial to administrative process. At the Bagong Pilipinas interview aired over state-run PTV4 on Wednesday, National Authority for Child Care Assistant Secretary Rowena Macalintal said the agency is intensifying efforts to find permanent homes for children currently staying under the care of government facilities and foster homes across the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, Macalintal revealed that around 7,000 children remain in facilities, awaiting permanent placement through adoption or reintegration with their families. She said the NACC is continuously working to process the documents of these children and match them with families who are ready to adopt or foster, especially those legally declared as abandoned or surrendered.
Since the implementation of Republic Act 11642, or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act in 2022, the country has seen significant improvements in the adoption process. Macalintal said the law transferred adoption cases from the judiciary to the NACC, making the process faster, more accessible, and free of charge.
Macalintal emphasized that under the new law, domestic administrative adoption takes an average of two to three months compared to several years under the old system. To bring services closer to the public, the NACC has established Regional Alternative Child Care Offices (RACCOs) nationwide to handle local applications for adoption, foster care, legal guardianship, and family reintegration.
This year's theme of the Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week, held every second week of June -- 'Proud Ampon, Proud Magulang' -- aims to encourage more Filipino families to consider adoption and foster care. Various government agencies and child welfare partners are set to hold activities that include a fun run, an information caravan, and public awareness campaigns.
Macalintal said foster care remains an equally vital alternative for children who cannot be reunited with their biological families or are not yet eligible for adoption. She urged more Filipino families to apply as prospective adoptive or foster parents. Interested individuals or families may inquire through the nearest RACCO or visit the NACC's official social media pages for guidance on the application process.
