Legal adoption in PH made easy, faster

Local

LEGAL adoption in the Philippines no longer requires court proceedings, is significantly faster, and comes at no cost to adoptive parents, except for securing the necessary documents.

This was the key message of the Regional Alternative Child Care Office-Central Visayas (RACCO-7) during a news media forum on Tuesday, June 24, where officials explained the full transition to administrative adoption, a process made possible under Republic Act No. 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act.

The law, enacted in 2022, created the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), now the central agency overseeing domestic and inter-country adoptions and alternative child care services in the country.

Under the new system, adoption orders are no longer issued by courts but by the NACC executive director, cutting the average processing time down to six to nine months.

“Administrative na siya in which dadaan na siya through the NACC… The turnaround period of domestic administrative adoption is only months,” said RACCO-7 head Concepcion Solera.

“Mas mahal siya [dati] kasi nga yung expensive na bayarin sa mga lawyer,” she added, referring to the previously court-based and costly adoption process.

For years, legal adoption in the Philippines meant navigating courtrooms, paying legal fees, and waiting for three to seven years to complete the process.

Today, the system has shifted toward a child-centered and parent-friendly framework, where it emphasizes efficiency, transparency, and accessibility.

Under administrative adoption, the process begins with the assessment of a prospective adoptive parent (PAP) by a licensed social worker.

Once eligibility is established, the child is matched with the PAP, and an adoption petition is filed before the NACC for final approval.

Once granted, a Certificate of Finality is issued 15 days after the adoption order is signed.

Since the law’s implementation in 2020, Central Visayas has logged 207 adoption petitions, with 121 orders issued and 99 certificates of finality granted.

Some cases include children with special needs, and most inter-country adoptions involve families from Canada, Italy, and Spain.

Who can adopt?

Contrary to public misconceptions, adoption in the Philippines is not limited to married couples or those in higher income brackets. Under RA 11642, any Filipino citizen, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation, may adopt, provided they are:

-Emotionally and mentally prepared

-Physically healthy

-Financially capable of supporting a child

“There is no required income bracket,” Solera clarified. “The social worker will assess them—yung motivation nila, yung intention nila to adopt. Kasi baka in-adopt mo lang pero iba yung motivation mo.”

She added that members of the LGBTQIA++ community and single individuals are equally welcome to adopt.

“Adoption is not about blood, it’s about love. Children born from the heart deserve to feel safe, loved, and protected,” she said.

Who can be adopted?

The NACC classifies children as eligible for adoption if they are under 15 years old and have been declared legally available for adoption, whether voluntarily or involuntarily committed to the state.

However, a child over 15 may still qualify under certain conditions:

-If the adoption process began before the child turned 15

-If part of a sibling group with at least one child under 15

-If a “Special Home Finding” was initiated before age 15

-If intent to adopt was manifested prior to turning 15

In addition to regular adoption, the law also covers:

-Relative adoption (within the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity)

-Step-parent and adult adoptions

-Inter-country adoption, especially in cases involving children with special needs

Countries such as Canada, Italy, and Spain continue to be top destinations for inter-country adoption of Filipino children.

How to begin the process

Those interested in adoption may visit the RACCO-7 office in Mandaue City or their nearest City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO/MSWDO). Local governments have been oriented on RA 11642 and can assist prospective adoptive parents.

The process begins with an orientation and assessment conducted by social workers. From there, eligible individuals or couples are guided through the legal procedures and matching process.

Upholding every child’s right to a family

RACCO-7 reiterated that adoption grants a child full legal status equal to that of a biological child, including inheritance rights, parental authority, and legal protection.

Solera emphasized the permanence of the act: once the order is issued, an adopted child cannot be “returned”, and only the child may petition for revocation under exceptional circumstances.

“Every child deserves a home, whether temporary or permanent,” she said. “Kung mag-aalaga ka ng bata, dapat from the heart talaga.”

This June, as the Philippines marks Alternative Child Care Month, the theme “Hope and Home for Every Child” serves as a timely reminder of the transformative power of adoption, not just for children in need but for those who choose to open their homes and hearts.(TGP)