DSWD reminds Pinoys: Domestic adoption is free under NACC

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its attached agency — the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) — encouraged qualified Filipinos to avail of the government’s free domestic administrative adoption services.

“Wala pong binabayaran na any application fee, processing fee sa amin. Wala pong bayad, libre po ang pag-adopt. So hindi po kailangan na kumuha ng abogado ang isang prospective adoptive parent (PAPs) o ang isang indibidwal na gusto po na mag-adopt ng bata,” NACC Director Imelda Ronda said.

Under Republic Act No. 11642, or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, the adoption process has been simplified to reduce costs and shorten waiting time, allowing children to find permanent families more quickly.

Currently, more than 6,000 children reside in DSWD-registered and accredited child-caring agencies, with almost 2,000 children legally available for adoption, according to Ronda.

Interested applicants may reach out to their local Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) for assessment. Qualified adoptive parents must be at least 25 years old and possess the emotional, psychological, and financial capacity to raise a child.

“Kahit single po, kahit miyembro ng LGBTQ+ community, pwede po. Wala po tayong discrimination dahil lahat naman po iyan ay i-aassess ng social worker base po sa inyong kakayanan at hindi sa inyong kasarian,” Ronda told DZMM anchors during an interview.

She emphasized that the matching process will always prioritize the best interest of the child rather than the preferences of the prospective parents.

“Ang panuntunan po natin talaga ay kung ano ba ang pangangailangan ng bata, ano yung needs ng bata. Hindi yung needs mo as a prospective adoptive parent,” she added.

The child placement process is handled by a multidisciplinary committee consisting of a psychiatrist or psychologist, a medical doctor, a lawyer, a social worker, and representatives from NGOs involved in child welfare.

Beyond adoption, Ronda also urged Filipinos to consider becoming foster parents under NACC’s foster care program — a temporary arrangement providing abused, abandoned, or neglected children with a safe and nurturing home environment.

She noted that the Philippines currently has around 800 licensed foster care parents, providing care for over 1,000 children nationwide.

The interview aired during Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan, hosted by Alvin Elchico and co-hosted by Jet Guevara of the DSWD Public Relations Service.