“Sana mawala na ang mga bata sa mga institution. Dapat may pamilya sila,” – Atty. Dulfie Shalim (Director of the DSWD’s Program Management Bureau)
When I was in my 4th grade, we went to an orphanage [Association de Damas de Filipinas]. In my mind, I was wondering, we were suppose to go to a park or to a mall or to a theme park but why are we here. Imagine a flock of innocent 10 year old boys and girls roaming around the orphanage, checking out the rooms, the playground and the kids. I was not a noble person that time, I pity the kids for they do not have parents to love them. My heart almost melted because babies were also left at the Association.
As a 10 year old girl that time, I was vulnerable to emotions because the idea of losing my parents was never entertained. Now that I am fully aware that more and more kids are left in orphanages, emotions have no room, because an open heart and mind are what they need.
According to a report from Karen Galarpe of GMA News, DSWD Undersecretary Parisya T. Taradji, said that they have facilitated the processing of the legal adoption of 6,558 children from 2006 to 2011, or an average of 1,300 children annually. On the other hand, Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB), has placed 4,406 Filipino children for adoption in other countries from 2000 to 2011, said Taradji, yielding an average of 400 Pinoy kids adopted by families abroad yearly. But these numbers are still insignificant because many children are still in orphanages or child care agencies, and it would be for the best interest of the children if they can be placed in the care of families legally, the DSWD said.
Adoption Consciousness Week had gone (Feb. 4 to Feb. 10), DSWD with the theme ““Isulong! Legal na Pag-aampon,” according to them it was very timely, given that many children are being abandoned these days. DSWD and ICAB felt that the “lack of awareness” about the legal adoption process maybe the reason why there is no increase in fosters and adoptees. Pepito de Leon, who adopted two children with his wife Flor more than 20 years ago, said he tried to convince friends to consider adoption when they have a hard time having a baby. Moreover, he said that “it is still difficult to convince people to consider adoption. There is a lack of knowledge and awareness, and there are fears that these children up for adoption may be children of incest, rape, or have a problem with their parental history,”
Atty. Bernadette Abejo, ICAB Executive Director, explained that “those are children. We shouldn’t lump them as children of GROs, children of crime. These children are not at fault. Ang problema ng parents, hindi problema ng bata.”
The process of legally adopting a child may involve several steps, but these are done to make sure the child is placed in a family that will best serve his or her interest.
Shalim explained the steps as follows:
1. Application. Interested adoptive parents will have to go to the DSWD office nearest them or to a duly accredited child placement institution. They will then be required to attend an adoption forum at a DSWD Field Office or at the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation and Norfil Foundation, both licensed by the DSWD to receive and process domestic adoption. After that, they are asked to submit required documents to the DSWD, Regional Trial Court, or child caring agencies.
2. Preparation of homestudy report. A social worker will interview and visit the home so she can evaluate “the parenting capability of prospective adoptive parents and capacity to provide for the best welfare of the child.”
3. Approval/disapproval of application
4. Matching or family selection. The National Child Welfare Specialist Group will deliberate on cases
.
5. Pre-placement of child. Information about the child is shared with the prospective adoptive parents.
6. Placement. The social worker will bring the child to the prospective adoptive parents.
7. Supervised trial custody. During a 6-month period, a social worker will visit the home regularly to monitor the adjustment of the child and parents.
8. Finalization of adoption. The social worker will recommend that a Consent to Adoption be issued and signed by the DSWD Undersecretary for Operations and Capacity Building Group. Prospective adoptive parents then hire a legal counsel to file the petition for the legalization of adoption and represent them in court.
9. Issuance of adoption decree. The Court issues an Adoption Decree and Certificate of Finality.
10. Issuance of an amended birth certificate. The Court will forward a copy of the Adoption Decree to the Local Civil Registrar for preparation of the amended birth certificate.
11. Post-adoptive services. This will be provided by the social worker as needed
I don’t think the legal process should haunt the interested families. One, the process is a must, everyone who wants to legally and clearly adopt a child must undergo the step. DSWD and other agencies have clearly stated that the process would safely transfer the kid from an orphanage to a family. Second, after the process the end result is priceless and truly worth it. Seeing a new member of the family is indeed more than the process the family had gone through. It will be an overwhelming feeling to give the child a humble abode and a loving family.
Every abandoned kid deserves a shelter and unconditional love.
By: Catherine Cenal
(Full news article: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/247444/lifestyle/people/adopt-children-legally-dswd-urges-families)
