DSWD launches info drive on adoption

MANILA, Philippines - A new campaign to increase public awareness of adoption and increasing the number of adoptive parents was launched recently.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched “Love Sees Beyond Differences” in partnership with the Inter-country Adoption Board (ICAB) and McCann Erickson “to soften the stigma on adoption.”

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said ICAB and McCann Erickson have collaborated to carry out the DSWD’s desire to undertake a communications campaign to give a new, more relevant perspective about legal adoption.

“There are so many children in orphanages and other child-caring agencies waiting to be adopted,” she said. “But families hold back on adoption because of its stigma.”

From January to Nov. 15 this year, a total of 457 cases of children were issued with certificate of a child legally available for adoption (CCLAA).

Republic Act 9523 requires a certification of the DSWD to declare a child legally available for adoption as a prerequisite for adoption proceedings.

From 457 cases issued with CCLAA, 24 cases were matched to local families.

Another 38 cases were matched to local families whose CCLAA were issued in previous years.

A total of 62 cases were matched to local families from January to Nov. 15, 2012, the DSWD said.

John Boren, Adoptive Families Foundation Inc. president, said while adoption takes time and some amount of money, the fruits and rewards are limitless.

“Our organization helps adoptive families during and after the process of adoption,” he said.

“We sponsor forums on the legal, social and psychological issues related to adoption. But above all, we want families to openly share their stories so more families will be inspired to adopt.”

Bobby Tinio, a board member of ICAB, said despite the stringent legal process, 1,000 foreign families are highly interested to adopt Filipino children.

As of September 2012, 93 children were cleared for adoption, he added.

Social Welfare Undersecretary Parisya Taradji, ICAB alternate chairman, said: “There is room for improvement within our own best practices. Through this advocacy, we hope that the stakeholders in the adoption process will come together to address adoption-related issues and concerns.”

A total of 6,265 foreign families have adopted Filipino children from 1995 to October 2012, according to ICAB.

Singer/songwriter Ogie Alcasid also performed his new song titled “I love you” to change the mindset of many Filipinos about adoption and encourage families to open their homes to adoptive children.

Raul Castro, McCann Worldgroup executive chairman, said through this advocacy the agency can be true to its vision of driving positive values that will help transform lives.

“This campaign on adoption is enabled by a team who commits to the advocacy on a personal level. Many wanted to get involved in the creative work, which aligns with our desire as a company to positively impact on lives,” he said.