DSWD warns vs illegal online adoption

The Department of Social Welfare and Development National Authority for Child Care (DSWD-NACC) on Thursday said that curbing cases of online illegal adoption is a big challenge, with the advent of such transactions conducted via social media. 

“Actually, member nga ako sa isa sa mga Facebook groups dahil gusto ko nga tingnan kung anu pinopost nila dun at maraming nagpopost na nagbebenta ng kanilang mga anak,” said DSWD-NACC Undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada in Mark Salazar’s “24 Oras” report. 

(I am a member of one of the Facebook groups. I joined to see what they were posting and saw there were those who are selling their children..)

“‘Yung iba hindi naman nagpapabayad pero gustong ipa-adopt ang anak at may mga vulnerable individuals na gusto na magkaanak sa mabilis na paraan,” she said. 

(Some of them only want their babies to be adopted while others want to have a child.)

Under the government’s new administrative system, the DSWD has streamlined the adoption process, with foster parents no longer required to appear in court.

“Kung hindi nyo po talaga kayang bigyan ng magandang buhay ang inyong mga anak nandito naman po ang gobyerno para tumulong sa kanila...Tututukan naman namin yun kapag nasa child caring agency na or nasa foster parents na ang mga bata. Kami na bahala dun sa mga bata,” she said.

(If you cannot take care of your children, the government can help them. The government will check on the children once they are with child caring agency or foster parents. We will take care of the children.)

Instead of abandoning the child or leaving the child anywhere, unwanted children are accepted by child caring agencies.

For prospective adoptive parents, the application process is simple.

“Ang matching committee naman ay may mga lawyers, doctors, psychologist, NGO representatives at social workers. Sila ang nagma-match sa mga parents at mga bata of course, tinitingnan kung capable ba mga parents talagang matustusan ang pangangailangan ng mga bata. Metikuloso ang matching process namin,” she said.

(The matching committee has lawyers, doctors, psychologists, NGO representatives, and social workers. They will match the child with the adoptive parents. They will check if the parents has the resources to care for the child. The matching process is meticulous.)

The DSWD-NACC kicked off its first-ever National Congress on Adoption on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the public was warned against illegal adoption.

“That child could be kidnapped, malay mo kung saan kinuha ang batang yan and you could be liable for kidnapping if the child is found with you,” said child care advocate Chary Mercado.

(That child could be kidnapped and you could be liable for kidnapping if the child is found with you.)

“Biglang mage-eksena dun na anak ko yan kukunin ko yan o hihingian ka ng pera o kukunin ang bata sayo,” Mercado added. 

(The biological parents may also take the child from you or ask you for money.) — Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News