The National Authority for Child Care (NACC), an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has partnered with the local government unit (LGU) of Sta. Josefa in Agusan del Sur to strengthen services for abandoned and neglected children—the first collaboration of its kind in Mindanao.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the initiative stemmed from Sta. Josefa LGU’s efforts to bolster child protection mechanisms at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The initiative was spurred by the rescue of two foundling children who had been seen wandering the streets of Barangay Sampaguita. Sta. Josefa Mayor Richard Plaza sought assistance from NACC to establish a stronger and more responsive local child protection system to address similar cases in the future,” Dumlao said on Monday, 27 October 2025.

Signed on 21 October, the partnership agreement includes the Sta. Josefa LGU among six nationwide that will formally work with NACC in developing foster care and adoption systems ensuring that vulnerable children are placed in safe, family-based environments.

NACC Director for Operations and Services Imelda Ronda signed the agreement on behalf of Undersecretary Janella Estrada, the NACC executive director. Under the agreement, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Sta. Josefa will identify and train foster parents, prepare adoption petitions, and process certifications declaring children legally available for adoption.

Since 2023, at least 212 abandoned and neglected children across the Caraga Region have been assisted through NACC’s foster care and adoption programs. Of these, 55 now live with adoptive parents, 73 are under licensed foster care, and 30 have been declared legally available for adoption this year.

The DSWD operates centers and residential care facilities nationwide that look after 7,000 vulnerable children, including those who were abandoned, orphaned, or exploited.

“In Mindanao, our DSWD’s Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) in Davao City currently cares for 38 abandoned children aged zero to six, giving them the much-needed support they need while also preparing them for the best alternative child care,” Dumlao said.

She added that the whole-of-nation approach continues to drive efforts to institutionalize child protection initiatives across the country.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) have also pushed for the integration of NACC’s child care programs into the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit, recognizing these initiatives as indicators of effective and responsive local governance.

“This keeps us aligned and united in ensuring that every child grows up protected, supported, and given a fair chance to thrive,” Dumlao said.