DSWD to public: Go through legal child adoption process

MANILA, Philippines — The  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Wednesday that together with the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), it is developing a system to streamline the child adoption process in the country,

“If our network on alternative child care and adoption is strong, then in effect, we ease out the potential illegal market out there. Kapag nalaman ng ating mga kababayan or ng foreign prospective adoptive parents na madali naman pala then there is no reason to venture into these illegal online baby selling platforms,” Social Welfare Secretary Gatchalian explained.

(If our countrymen or foreign prospective adoptive parents find out that it is easy to adopt then there is no reason to venture into these illegal online baby selling platforms.)

Gatchalian made the statements at the National Congress on Adoption and Alternative Child Care of the NACC.

He likewise warned parents or prospective adopters not to patronize online sites that peddle  infants since this is considered as human trafficking.

“Babala na siguro ito sa mga nagtatangka na huwag niya na gawin itong adoption na hindi dumadaan sa tamang prosesong legal, human trafficking yan,” he said.

(This is also a warning to those who engage in illegal adoption as that is considered human trafficking.)

“Kung inosente ka man, at gusto mo lang naman magkaanak, huwag mo nang tangkain ‘yon, pumasok na lamang tayo sa tamang proseso sa NACC kasi itinaguyod nga ng mga mambabatas natin ‘tong NACC para maging mas mabilis ang proseso ng pag-adopt,” he added.

(If you are innocent, and you want to have a child, just go through the right process of NACC because our lawmakers instituted NACC for a speedy adoption process.)