Here’s How You Can Legally Adopt a Child in the Philippines
Apr 21, 2021 • Kyzia Maramara
Apr 21, 2021 • Kyzia Maramara
There are so many reasons to consider adopting a child. For one, thousands of Filipino children need a new home, one where they will be nurtured and loved. For couples having problems conceiving, this might be their only chance at forming a family. The same goes for single parents who want to care for a child and form their own family. At the end of the day, adoption is a personal decision for every prospective parent.
If you want to adopt a child and don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out how to adopt in the Philippines.
Both an adoptive family or relatives can adopt a child. An agency adoption is the one type of adoption in the Philippines. It’s where the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or other child-placing agencies help adoptive parents go through the process of finding a child and applying to be their family.
Another type of adoption is where the child is placed under the care of relatives within the 4th degree of consanguinity.
The Congress provides clear policies on adopting in the Philippines through the Republic Act No. 8552 or the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998.
As a prospective parent, you are eligible for adopting a child if you meet the following criteria:
The DSWD will also make sure that prospective parents have the position to support, educate, and care for the adoptee. They will have to undergo rigorous pre-adoption services before being declared fit to raise a child.
If you’re a foreign national and you want to adopt in the Philippines, that’s possible too. You just have to make sure of a few things:
Much like the guidelines for locals, foreign nationals also need to pass the DSWD assessment along with other requirements and certifications.
According to R.A. No. 8552, these are the people eligible for adoption:
Here’s what you’ll need to tick off:
According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), below are the general process adoptive parents will undergo. They’re split into two phases:
Administrative Phase:
Judicial Phase:
You can expect the process of adoption to take months, if not a few years, but in the end everything will be worth it. You get to care for a child and form a family, after all.
The DSWD services are free but as an adoptive parent, you will have to shoulder the cost of the adoption documents and requirements. You will have to spend money on lawyers too if your case needs it.
If you’re adopting, you should also be financially prepared for anything the child needs like hospital check-ups and basic needs.
Aside from the DSWD, you can also come to other organizations and foundations if you are looking to adopt. Kaisahang Buhay Foundation and NORFIL Foundation can help you out. Other non-profit organizations you can look into are ROHEI Foundation and All God’s Children which help people from all over the world adopt from the Philippines and other countries.
Even if you’re not adopting, you can also donate to these organizations to help them take care of the children.
If you need more information or if you still have questions, you can log on to the DSWD’s website or visit them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You can also reach out to the NCR Region office of DSWD’s Domestic Adoption and Foster Care Services through (632) 5310-1834 and (632) 8733-0010 loc 103.
Lastly, you can send Krishna Mei A. Salazar (Adoption) or Angelique V. Diaz (Foster Care) an email at arrs.foncr@dswd.gov.ph and fostercare.foncr@dswd.gov.ph.
Tell us about your adoption journey in the comments!
Kyzia spends most of her time capturing the world around her through photos, paragraphs, and playlists. She is constantly on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and a great paperback thriller to pair with it.
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