GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE FASTER AND EASIER ADOPTION PROCESS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Reacting to the clamor for a more efficient processing of adoptions in the Philippines, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has just this year batted for adoption advocacy with the cooperation of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in an effort to disseminate information and knowledge to the public about the legal adoption process.

It has been noted that the Philippines has 1.8 million abandoned children who are potential adoptees, only to be denied the opportunity to grow up in a healthy environment with parents due to the cost of adoptions and the snail’s pace of court proceedings.

Among the measures being considered are encouraging and aiding prospective adopters to complete the legal requirements prior to filing the petitions for adoption, and making sure that lawyers are available on the scheduled hearings for adoptions , and asking the courts to allocate adoption hearings once a week instead of the normal one month gap in between hearings