The National Authority for Child Care (NACC), an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), urged stronger action from social media platforms, particularly Meta, to prevent the proliferation of online baby selling and illegal adoption groups. NACC Asst. Secretary for Operations and Services Rowena Macalintal disclosed that the agency has intensified coordination with law enforcement authorities to address the rising cases of illegal adoption.

“Ngayon po tayo ay matamang nakikipag-ugnayan sa Philippine National Police at Women and Children Protection Center. Na-flag po natin sa kanila lahat ng mga na-monitor nating online Facebook groups ng mga ampunan ng bata, Babies for Sale, at mga Online Adoption Page. Ito ang mga sites kung saan nagkikita at nagkakausap pa itong seller at perpetrators at buyers,” Macalintal said.

The NACC official clarified, however, that a total takedown of all identified groups is not possible due to ongoing law enforcement operations. “Nanawagan ang PNP na huwag dapat total takedown, kasi meron silang ongoing active entrapment operations. Meron tayong mga nahuhuli at nasasampulan ng mga nakakasuhan ng perpetrators natin,” Macalintal said.

Based on their findings, Macalintal reported that babies are being sold in these Facebook groups for amounts ranging from as low as P8,000 to as high as P130,000. She also noted that some monitored groups have as many as 13,000 members, raising concerns about the lack of urgency by Meta to regulate and take down groups partaking in illegal activities.

“There’s a provision in the expanded Anti-Trafficking Law that these internet intermediaries can be held liable if knowingly, and by gross negligence, they allow their sites to be used as trafficking mode. Dito sa nangyayari sa online baby selling kung saan through the Facebook groups nakikita ang perpetrator at mga buyers, nagagamit na for trafficking ang kanilang site,” Macalintal stressed.

The NACC official called for a formal dialogue between the national government and the social media platform. “Kaya ating panawagan is sana mas maging vigilant ang ating pamahalaan, make serious representations with Meta, para sana wala nang maki-create na groups. Pag alam nyo na against public policy, against law ng Pilipinas, automatically sila na huwag nila hayaang maki-create,” Macalintal said.

Aside from the sellers, buyers who engage in these activities can also be held liable, as Macalintal emphasized that online adoption is illegal in the Philippines. She explained that the formal adoption process only takes about nine months in total, provided prospective adoptive parents comply with all documentary and procedural requirements.

Meanwhile, for parents who are no longer able to care for their children, Macalintal assured that they may approach the NACC, all DSWD offices, licensed child care agencies, and other authorized care facilities for proper assessment, counseling, and intervention, emphasizing that safe and legal options exist to protect both the child and the parent.