Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 6) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said they are looking into streamlining the adoption process.
“We should go back in the department in reviewing if there are some requirements that are taken off, some procedures that could be relaxed,” said DSWD Underscretary Flor Villar in an interview on CNN Philippines News Night.
She added that they have gotten feedback from adoptive parents that they want the adoption process to be shorter.
Adoption in the Philippines currently has two phases: administrative and judicial. The process of obtaining a judicial decree of adoption from the courts could take years.
“We have been hearing from a lot of those who have adopted before and who are undergoing this kind of experience that they want to move for administrative proceedings because of the length and the cost,” Villar said.
Shorter adoption proceedings would also benefit the child, Villar added.
“The more that they are finalized in terms of court proceedings, the more that these children will feel security, the love and care, because of their adoptive parents,” she said.
Atty. Rod Nepomuceno is among those who have experienced the long process of adopting a child. He and his wife currently have two children, both adopted. The adoption of the eldest, a son, is still undergoing judicial proceedings.
“It’s been three and a half years, we’re not even at the court part… it’s a tedious process, you have to have case study report, a blotter, you have to work with the local government units,” Nepomuceno said.
The Nepomucenos adopted their son after they received a Viber message about a baby that was abandoned by his parents, who remain unknown.
Nepomuceno added that the adoption process for their daughter, who was from an orphanage, was more straightforward.
Social Welfare Undersecretary Flor Villar and Rod Nepomuceno join us live to talk about adoption in the Philippines https://t.co/msCLmwV0u6 pic.twitter.com/VE5SZ8Ks46
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) September 6, 2019
