DAVAO City –The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to strongly advocate legal adoption as it leads the observance of the Adoption Consciousness Week on February 15 to 23.

“We will always ensure protection of children at any given time, anywhere. That is why we have been implementing and promoting Alternative Parental Care for homeless and abandoned children,” stressed Director Priscilla N. Razon of DSWD.

Programs under the DSWD Alternative Parental Care or Alternative Family Care are Domestic Adoption, Inter-Country Adoption, Foster Family Care and Legal Guardianship.

The DSWD Adoption Resource and Referral Unit handles processing of adoption applications.

“To help us disseminate the importance of legal adoption, we invite adoptive families to speak about their experience during Adoption Forum, press conference, radio programs and other public events,” Director Razon said.

Director Razon said one of the DSWD champions on legal adoption is former city mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio who is very proud to have adopted a baby girl.

“We appeal to other adoptive families out there to visit DSWD now and legalize the adoption of your child,” Director Razon added.

With the strengthened adoption advocacy, DSWD XI was able to process a total of 39 adoption cases in 2013. Of this figure, 16 were inter-country adoption wherein applicants [adoptive families] are foreigners.

On February 22, DSWD XI will hold its first Convention of Adoptive Families at Harana Restaurant where some 75 adoptive families will bond and learn from each other.

One important thing up for discussion during the convention is the DSWD Post Adoptive Services. Participants will also take part in family games.

DSWD will also lead the Unveiling of Adoption Advocacy Materials at SM City Ecoland Annex Event Centre on February 13 and host the Adoption Forum on February 17.

Other activities to promote legal adoption are radio and television announcements, press conference, and mounting of Adoption Inquiry Desk at SM City Ecoland [front of National Bookstore] where DSWD and court social workers will respond to queries and concerns on adoption.

Theme for this year’s celebration is “Legal na Pag-Aampon sa Lahat ng Pagkakataon”. (DSWD)