Poe: Adoption should be through DSWD not courts

Senator Grace Poe. INQUIRER.net / CATHY MIRANDA

The process of legal adoption in the country should pass through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) instead of the courts, Senator Grace Poe said.

Poe added that a bill should also be filed in Congress to make adoption an administrative process and not a judicial one.

“We need to (file) something to make adoption an administrative process (instead of) going through the courts. Ang court system, maraming iba’t ibang trabaho. Ang daming pending doon,” Poe told reporters at a press conference..

“Kung gagawin nating DSWD ang taga-pamahala dito, baka we can add a budget for them,” the senator added.

According to Poe, by making adoption an administrative process, adoptive parents will be relieved of the voluminous paperwork and the expenses expected in a legal adoption case.

“Kaya sana sa ating batas ay mapabilis ang proseso ang pag-adopt ng bata. Napakamahal, napakatagal at masyadong maraming paperwork na dapat mabawasan,” Poe said in another interview.

“Administrative na lang ang adoption. Hindi na kailangan dumaan sa korte. Kahit sa DSWD, dapat may mga eksperto doon na nakatutok sa mga kasong ganito,” she added.

Usec. Emmanuel Leyco, officer-in-charge of the DSWD, backed Poe’s statement, saying that the DSWD is capable of carrying out the processes under an administrative system.

“Given the administrative system, we can assure you that DSWD right now has the capability, expertise, dedication, and commitment to make sure that the adoption process is carried out successfully,” Leyco said.  /muf