THE NATIONAL Authority for Child Care (NACC) and local government units from regions 9-11 signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to implement the Philippine Foster Care Program.
The program aims to increase the number of licensed foster parents and families to combat illegal adoption in partnership with NACC and the Regional Alternative for Child Care Office (RACCO).
Local chief executives from Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte; Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; Magsaysay, Talisayan, and Villanueva from Misamis Oriental along with NACC Undersecretary Janella Estrada and Asec. Rowena Macalintal executed the signing during the 1st National Congress on Adoption and Alternative Child Care 2024 in Acacia Hotel, Davao City on May 8.
More than 250 participants, policymakers, national government officials, and social workers convened in the congress.
“Kapag may mga emergency placement tayo kagaya ng mga batang iniiwan, pwede nating ilagay sa mga emergency foster care families,” Estrada told reporters.
She added that LGUs are encouraged to develop and assist at least 10 foster families willing to open their hearts and homes to children in need.
Under Republic Act 11642, NACC is mandated to implement the Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, Simulated Birth Rectification Act (RA 11222), Inter-Country Adoption (RA 8043), Philippine Foster Care Program (RA 10165), and the Foundling Recognition and Protection Act (RA 11767).
The agency reported 524 total children legally eligible for adoption, served 1,143 foster children and issued 158 adoption orders in 2023.
For inter-country adoption, a total of 239 children have foreign adoptive parents since 2022. NACC has also partnered with 17 countries and received 399 Decree of Adoption.
In Region XI, the latest data showed 11 children identified for adoption and 11 children issued with Certification Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption.
Margarita Cainghog, a daycare teacher from Toril District and a foster parent to two children, including a 6-year-old diagnosed autistic child, shared how being a foster parent is challenging but fulfilling at the same time.
“Napakasaya dahil hindi ko naranasan na maging isang ina. Nang dumating ang mga batang ito, although special children, pero kaya ko naman silang alagain kaya masaya,” she shared to the media during a sideline interview.
She also cared for one child who was returned to the biological family, and one was already adopted in Italy last year through inter-country adoption.
Margarita shared that one of the challenges was the detachment from the foster children and the cutting off of communication when the child was legally adopted by another family.
Julie Dayaday, City Social Welfare and Development Office head, told TIMES the local government has yet to sign a MOA with NCCA for the implementation of the foster care program.
