DAVAO CITY (DSWD) – Director Mercedita P. Jabagat of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) enjoins the public to always consider the best interest of children and help promote the legal procedure in adopting children as the nation once again observes Adoption Consciousness Week from February 11 to 19.

“Over the years, DSWD has been resolute in its efforts of bringing to the fore the importance of legalizing the adoption of children, emphasizing the sense of security and peace of mind it offers to both the child and the adoptive family,” Director Jabagat stressed.

The act of adopting a child is an act of selfless love, ensuring full and complete protection over the adopted child or children. We call on all adoptive families and those intending to adopt to adhere to and be mindful of the adoption law, Director Jabagat urged.

“Let us make the life of our adopted child the happiest by providing the love and the security he or she needs most, so that he or she will grow up emotionally secure, healthy and responsible,” she added.

To further push legal adoption, the Adoption Resource and Referral Section of DSWD Davao Region has been conducting orientation on Republic Act 9523 (DSWD Certification to Declare a Child Legally Available for Adoption) as well as Adoption Forum for social workers in local government units and child caring agencies, and to barangay health workers.

This year’s theme Pagmamahal Palaganapin, Legal na Pag-aampon Ating Gawin (Spread Unconditional Love through Legal Adoption) advocates the welfare and human rights of adoptive children who must also enjoy the same privileges as biological children do.

Adoption is a socio-legal process of providing a permanent family to a child whose parents have voluntarily or involuntarily relinquished parental authority over the child.

In 2016, the Adoption Resource and Referral Section of DSWD Davao Region was able to serve 184 cases pertaining adoption.

For the weeklong event, DSWD will convene adoptive parents and prospective families in an Adoption Forum. A press conference to promote legal adoption will also be conducted through Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex while Adoption Inquiry Desk will be installed in strategic places to readily respond to queries. Further, advocacy through newspapers, social media, radio and television has also been arranged.

“I Love You, Anak” is the official song for the adoption advocacy campaign of DSWD, Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) and McCann Worldgroup.  (DSWD)