Congress urged to OK Foster Care Bill

MANILA, Philippines - Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman urged yesterday Congress to pass the Foster Care Bill to strengthen the foster parenting system in the country amid the increasing number of abandoned children being turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).     

“Foster care is a very nurturing alternative parental care for abandoned, neglected, orphaned children and other children with special needs,” Soliman said.

Soliman said the measure supports the DSWD policy on de-institutionalization of children, wherein immediate transfer of children from institutions to alternative family or independent living is encouraged.

Likewise, the measure provides assistance and tax incentives to foster parents, child caring agencies, and donor institutions.

Under the bill, foster parents will be provided with counseling, training on childcare and development, respite care, skills training and livelihood assistance. Foster parents could also be entitled to personal tax exemption and additional exemption for dependents.

The bill also states that a non-government organization accredited by the DSWD shall be exempted from paying income tax on the income derived by it as an organization under the provision of Section 30 of the Tax Code of the Philippines.

DSWD said it has served some 749 abandoned and neglected children in the second half of this year alone in the 11 Reception and Study Centers for Children nationwide.