Adoption awareness in school pushed

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is linking up with other departments to strengthen its campaign for equality for adopted children in the enjoyment of their rights along with biological children.

In particular, adoption consciousness will be integrated into school curriculums to educate both teachers and students on the sensitive matter and allow them to discuss it more freely.

This is part of the DSWD’s agreement with the Department of Education, Department of Health and Department of the Interior and Local Government as part of the celebration of Adoption Consciousness Week on Feb. 17-28.

The four agencies signed a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday in Quezon City, in which each committed to implement measures and policies to increase adoption awareness.

DSWD data showed that 623 children were placed for local adoption from 2010 to 2014, while 2,165 children were placed for inter-country adoption in the same period.

‘Let children be in your homes’

Most foreign adoptive parents were from the United States, Spain, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

“Many abandoned, neglected vulnerable children legally available for adoption are waiting to have families of their own. We appeal to families who have the heart and resources to consider letting one of these children into your homes,” Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said.

Aside from integrating adoption consciousness into the curriculum, the DSWD stressed the need for teachers to be aware about adoption.

“We want to make it a subject of discussion, we want students and teachers to be able to discuss it openly in class by having teachers undergo training on adoption consciousness,” said Rosalie Dagulo, chief of the Adoption and Social Welfare Attaché office.

Dagulo noted that adoption was still a sensitive issue with adopted children being teased or bullied in school by other children.

“What we want to stress is that a biological child and an adopted one enjoy the same rights. This is why we urge those with adopted children to legalize the adoption process,” she said.