DSWS opens unit to process adoption

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) now has its own unit to provide for legal adoption services.

The said unit was added to DSWS following the passage of Republic Act 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act in January 2022.

With this, childless couples in the city who wants to adopt abandoned and fostered children can now do so in a short period of time. DSWS is looking at having the adoption process done in less than a year.

“Gipaningkamotan namo nga in less than a year, maka-adopt na sila,” said

Maureen Villamor, DSWS Adoption Program head.

Aside from making the process short, it is assured to be inexpensive for the would-be adoptive parents.

 “Sa wala pa ang RA 11642, tanang adoption cases moagi sa korte. Expensive gyud to siya kay kinahanglan paman ka mohire og lawyer, moagi pa sa legal process ug uban pa,” Villamor said.

At present, all adoption cases will be handled by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The NACC created the Regional Alternative Child Care Offices (RACCOs) all over the country to decentralize the administration of adoption cases. So far, there are already 35 couples currently working on adoption process under DSWS assistance.

Other interested couples can visit the city’s DSWS or local RACCO to start their application. After the filing of application expressing their interest to adopt, interested parents and couples will have to attend a series of four consecutive adoption forums every Monday and later on undergo interview by social workers at the DSWS office.

The DSWS will then assess the willingness of the parents and couples to adopt a child and to conduct background checks along with a licensed psychologist.

For regular adoptions, childless couples are matched with a child that is subject for adoption while a separate process will be done for those who opt to adopt their foster children.

Currently, there are some children set for adoption at the DSWS Child Placement Center or from orphanages organized by non-government organizations in the city. (CEBU NEWS)