Adoption in the Philippines

The DSWD recognizes three major types of domestic adoption within the Philippines:
agency adoption, relative adoption, and independent adoption. Agency adoption refers
to the procedure by which a legally accredited agency finds potential families for
children who are put up for adoption. Relative adoption is when the biological parents of
a child renounce their claim over the child to a relative or a member of their extended
family. Independent adoption occurs when biological parents directly place their child
with acquaintances or utilize intermediaries to facilitate the process. As for inter-country
adoption, it is the process of matching a child with a family outside of the Philippines
through the collaboration of local and foreign adoption agencies.
Agency adoption[edit]
Agency adoption occurs when a DSWD-licensed agency finds adoptive families for
children. Agency adoption targets three actors: the biological parents, the child who will
be up for adoption, and the adopters. Philippine state policies and procedures regarding
adoption aims to balance and safeguard the rights and welfare of the stated actors.
Procedures for agency adoption[edit]
Pre-adoption[edit]
The DSWD provides for pre-adoption procedures as stipulated in RA 8552 in order to
safeguard parents from making hurried decisions, as well as safeguard the child from
unnecessary separation from his or her biological parents.[3] The pre-adoption
procedures are generally concerned with counseling the actors involved in order to
ensure their mental and emotional well-being throughout the entire adoption process.
Counseling of biological parents[edit]
Counseling of biological parents attempts to ensure they are well-informed of the
implications of surrendering their child for adoption. This measure is important in
safeguarding against hasty choices born out of potential emotional and financial
pressures.
Information provided during the counseling sessions focus on making sure the biological
parent understands that he or she is fully relinquishing their parental authority over the
child, which entails having no further contact with their child. However, if the child
wishes, he or she may initiate communication with their parents in the future. Biological
parents are also given the right to reconsider giving up their child for adoption within
three months of signing the Deed of Voluntary Commitment (DVC), which is a document
that formalizes the relinquishment of their child.[4]
Any expressed desire to commit a child to adoption will only be binding after the actual
birth of the child so as to give the biological parents enough opportunity to assess their
available alternatives. Counseling services for biological parents are also available after
their child has been surrendered in order to assist in coping with guilt or feelings of
loss.[3]
Should the biological parents of the child be unknown, the DSWD or the child-placing
agency has the duty to explore all avenues in order to locate the biological parents of a
child. Efforts are deemed sufficient when there exists: 1) certification from a local or
national radio or television station that the case was aired on three different occasions;
2) publication of the case in one newspaper of general circulation; 3) certification from
the police, barangay, Philippine Red Cross, National Headquarters (NHQ), or Social
Service Division that the child's parents could not be found; and 4) returned mail to the
last known address of the parent(s) or known relatives.[5]
Counseling for prospective adoptive parents[edit]
Prospective adoptive parents are mandated to go through a counseling process as well
as join an adoption forum in order to be prepared for effective parenting.
Counseling should help prospective adoptive parents come to terms with the reasons
behind their decision to adopt. With regards to infertility in particular, counseling is
necessary in order to make sure the adopters internalize the concept that the adopted
child is not merely there as a substitute child until they are able to conceive.
The social worker is also responsible for making sure the prospective adopters
understand are familiar with the adoption process. This is also when prospective
parents are coached on how and when to discuss and disclose the child's adopted
status to the adoptee, as well as how to answer questions about their biological
parents.[3]
Counseling of the adoptee[edit]
Older children are also included in counseling to help them understand that the people
who will be adopting them will be their new parents. To the extent of the child's
comprehension, the adoption process and legal implications will be explained to them.
In the counseling sessions, the child is also given the opportunity to express their
apprehensions and hopes for adoption.[3]
Adoption procedures[edit]
Social Case Study Report[edit]
The Social Case Study Report (SCSR) is a written assessment conducted by a licensed
social worker as to the child's social, economic, cultural, and psychosocial background,
as well as details about the abandonment or neglect of the child. The report should also
contain the efforts of the social worker to locate the child's biological parents/relatives. [6]
The certification of counseling of both biological parents must be provided for the case
study report to take place. The DSWD or child-placing agency then must prepare a case
study report of the child and the biological parents. The social worker must confirm the
real identity and registered name of the adoptee with the Civil Registry. If the adoptee is
not registered, the social worker is responsible for facilitating the child's registration.
The case study report must contain the child's legal status, placement history,
psychological, social, spiritual, medical, ethno-cultural background and that of his
biological family needed in determining the most appropriate placement for him. [7] After
this, the child may be placed in the custody of the DSWD or a child-placing agency.
The social worker prepares a case study report on the prospective adopters as well, to
make sure they can provide a suitable home for the child. The Supreme Court Rule on
Adoption refers to this as a “home study report” “aimed to help the DSWD and courts
ascertain the genuine intentions of the adopters.”[8]
Matching process or family selection[edit]
Prospective adopters and the children legally available for adoption then meet at the
matching table once the case study reports have been filed.
Matching is the major function of the Child Welfare Specialist Group (CWSG). This
group is composed of five members: a social worker from DSWD, a lawyer, a physician,
a psychologist, and NGO representative of adoptive parents or child welfare
agencies.[9] The DSWD Secretary has since created a National Child Welfare Specialist
Group; the creation of a national matching committee was done in order to prevent
delays in placing the child. Adopters are asked to specify their preferences in the child
with whom they will be matched, including sex and age. The matching process also
determines if the adopters are willing to adopt a child who has a developmental delay or
disability.
With regards to religious affiliations, the Omnibus Guidelines on the Domestic Adoption
Process state that religion can only be considered if the child is old enough to
understand religious belief and practices. This age is generally pegged at 6 years old
and above.
Placement and supervised trial custody[edit]
Upon the completion of the matching process, the social workers are then required to
prepare the adoptive family and the child for placement. Once the DSWD has approved
the placement, the department will issue the Pre-Adoption Placement Authority to
transfer parental responsibility to the adoptive parents. This also marks the beginning of
the supervised trial custody.
The supervised trial custody is defined as the period of time during which a social
worker monitors the adjustment period and emotional preparedness of both adopters
and adoptee in their new familial relationship.[10]This entails monthly home visits to
check up on the situation of the adopted child in his or her new family, after which the
social worker must submit progress reports to the authorized body.
The duration of the supervised trial custody is six months; upon its culmination, the
Consent to Adopt is issued by the DSWD. This time period should be waived if
biological parents want to adopt their illegitimate child, or if foster parents want to adopt
their foster child provided that a harmonious relationship exists between the child and
his foster family.[11]
Filing a petition for adoption[edit]
Potential adopters must then file the petition for adoption with the Family Court of their
province in order to make the adoption official. This is the only point when the services
of a lawyer are needed.
There are several provisions enumerated in the Supreme Court Rule on Adoption
regarding the petition to be filed. It stipulates that this petition must be verified and state
at the heading of the initiatory pleading its specific contents. These may consist of an
application for a change of name, rectification of simulated birth, voluntary or involuntary
commitment of children or declaration of the child as abandoned, dependent or
neglected.[12]
In the case of a request for a change of name, reasons must be stated. Along with this,
the registered name, aliases (if any) and the proposed new name of the child must be
listed.[13]
If rectification of simulated birth is requested, the simulation of birth must have occurred
prior to the date of effectivity of RA 8552 and the application for both the rectification
and the petition must be filed within five years of the said date. The simulation of birth
would be rectified for the best interests of the potential adoptee, and he or she must
have been consistently treated as the petitioner's own child.[14]
For the case where an abandoned, a dependent or neglected child is to be adopted,
facts must be cited to prove this assertion, including the names and residence of the
child's parents or guardians. The name of the accredited child-placement agency must
also be stated together with their authorization to give consent.[15]
The court shall only proceed to hear the petition once the order of hearing has been
published and all stipulated requirements met. Both the petitioner and the potential
adoptee must be present during the hearing, with the petitioner testifying before the
judge on the said date. The social worker must also be present to ensure that all
involved parties have been well assessed and have gone counseling so that they will be
fully prepared.[16]
The presence of both the petitioner and the adoptee is vital as through this the court
may be able to better gauge the child's condition both individually and relative to the
petitioner.
Decree of adoption[edit]
Only when all the requirements have been settled, can they move stage of the decree of
adoption.
The provisions regarding the adoption decree can be found in RA 8552. They include
the following. The decree of adoption phase will only be entered upon approval of the
court with the best interests of the child put forward.[17]
There will also be an amended certificate of birth issued by the Civil Registry. This
reinforces the petitioner's claim to the adoptee by registering the child with a new
surname. The previous birth certificate will also be cancelled and stamped
appropriately.[18]
The adoption decree will also contain the new name of the child. With the decree also
comes the following, a certificate of finality to be issued by the Clerk of Court after the
closure of the 15-day appeal period and a certified true copy of the adoption decree to
be submitted by the adopter to the Civil Registrar within 30 days of the issuance of the
certificate of finality. The Civil Registrar, after making the proper annotations to the
decree of adoption, must then seal away the adoptee's original birth certificate,
replacing it with a new birth certificate.[19]
It is important to take note that the decree becomes effective upon filing of the Petition
of Adoption. This completes the process of adoption as the petitioner can now legally
refer to the adoptee as his or her own child.
Governing bodies for agency adoption[edit]
The DSWD oversees this process by providing a license for adoption agencies who are
allowed to facilitate agency adoption. These adoption agencies are also supported by
the ACCAP (The Association of the Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines) who have
done so since their establishment in 1994.[20]
Relative adoption[edit]
Relative adoption is the legal adoption of a child by a close family member. Before
parents finalize their decision on putting up their child for adoption, they would consider
all possible placement options. Most of the time they would rely on the help of family
leading to informal arrangements. Such a set-up could lead to future complications, for
instance in inheritance. Thus, to safeguard the child's rights and benefits, families
should go through legal adoption. It is also advised that both birth parents and the
prospective foster parents undergo counseling in order to fully prepare them to accept
and respect the new dynamic for the benefit of the child.[21]As for the proper procedure
to be followed for a legal relative adoption, the steps listed above from Placement and
Supervised Trial Custody until Decree of Adoption must be followed.
Independent adoption[edit]
Independent adoption is the legal adoption of a child by an acquaintance of the
biological parents of the child or a stranger encountered through an intermediary. It
shares a lot of similarities to relative adoption in terms of how the process is facilitated.
It primarily differs in the potential adoptive parents who in this case are not blood-related
to the biological parents and therefore the child. An implication of this is that the child
may no longer be monitored as much as the biological parents could in the case of
relative adoption. For the procedure for the independent adoption to be legalized, the
steps beginning from Placement and Supervised Trial Custody up until Decree of
Adoption must be followed.
Private or independent adoptions is the act of either placing a child under a family
known by the child's biological parents or placing a child under a parent or parents who
are interested in adopting the child.[22]
Inter-Country adoption[edit]
Inter-country adoption is done as a last resort, and only when opportunities for local
adoption has been exhausted and for the best interest of the child as per
UNICEF,[23] Hague[24] and Philippine[25]
From 1996 to June 2011, inter-country adoption matches were numbered to be
around:[26]

1. Regular adoption (4,075)

 2. Relative adoption or adoption by a relative within the 4th degree of
consanguinity (1,277)
3. Special needs adoption which involves older children who require particular
medical attention (1,020)
4. Independent placement which "refers to children who should be adopted due to
exceptional circumstances (ex. when a foundling is left at the doorstep of a
house)[27]" (214)
5. Medical mission adoption which is a temporary adoption by a host family of
children in need of a special operation (54)
Costs[edit]
As of 2007, cost of application for inter-country adoption as well as the processing fee
for single placement is around US$3,200 which may vary depending on where the child
came from as well as where they will go. For a sibling group of two or more, the
processing fee will have an additional US$1,000.00 regardless of the number of
siblings. This is in addition to the costs of travel as well as other documents such as
passport, visas, medical and psychological tests of both the child and the PAP

Legislation[edit]
Domestic adoption[edit]
Evolution of domestic adoption laws[edit]
Old Civil Code[edit]
The first laws about adoption in the Philippines were written in the Spanish Civil Code of
1889 which was put into effect through a Royal Decree by the Spanish Government.
Most of the provisions here were adopted by the Philippines during their formulation of
their own Civil Code in 1993. The provisions during this time placed importance on the
adopter since the process back then was seen as something beneficial for said adopter.
Civil Law expert and former Senator Arturo Tolentino states that "persons who had no
children were allowed to adopt so that they may experience the joys of paternity and
have an object of their instincts of parenthood". Most articles concerned with adoption in
this Civil Law prioritized the adopter and his interests over the adoptee. This can be see
in how one article stated that those who already had natural, legitimate and legitimated
children were not allowed to adopt. The Spanish Civil Code and its provisions on
adoption continued to take effect in the Philippines up until the end of the American
Occupation on June 4, 1946.[28][29]
New Civil Code[edit]
On August 30, 1950 the Civil Code of the Philippines was enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives under Republic Act No. 386.[30] Articles 334 through 347,
which can be seen in the first Book of the Civil Code which is concerned with the
Person and Family Relations, contain the provisions with regard to adoption. Some
provisions from the Spanish Civil Code were carried over to this such as the individuals
prohibited from adopting.[29] Aside from those who already had natural children or
natural children by legal fiction, prohibitions for the guardian of the child "before the
approval of his accounts", individuals who have yet to receive approval from their
spouses, foreign nationals who are not residents of the Philippines, and citizens who
have committed a crime which was penalized with six months imprisonment or more
were added in this new iteration of the Civil Code.[31] However, the view on adoption had
begun to change by this time with Tolentino stating that adoption was "now being given
a social and moral purpose", which was to provide to the adoptee "the protection of
society in the person of the adopter". The provisions which reflect these views would not
be seen until the release of the New Civil Code. The logic behind restricting adoption to
those who had no natural children was that the purpose of adoption was to "afford to
persons who have no child of their own the consolation of having one by creating,
through legal fiction, the relation of paternity and filiation where none exists by blood
relationship". It was also to prevent conflicts arising from the introduction of a foreign
element into a family which already had children.[32] The requirements for adoption were
also made clear in article 334 which stated that adoption may be requested by "[e]very
person of age, who is in full possession of his civil rights".[33] Aside from these,
provisions about who may and may not be adopted, as well as the list of individuals
from whom a written consent must be obtained are also present. The rights and duties
of the adopted individual, as well as the cases wherein adoption may be revoked are
also listed in this chapter.[34]
Presidential Decree No. 603[edit]
On June 10, 1975, President Ferdinand E. Marcos enacted Presidential Decree No. 603
also known as the Child and Youth Welfare Code.[35] In here, the old provisions
regarding who were allowed to adopt were repealed by Article 27. The adopter still had
to be in full possession of his civil rights before he could adopt but now, even those who
already had natural children or natural children by legal fiction were allowed to adopt as
long as they could provide support and care for all the children.[36] Among the new
provisions added were those requiring the Department of Social Welfare and
Development to make a case study of the adoptee, his natural parents, and the
prospective adoptive parents before an adoption petition may be granted. [37] A trial
custody of at least six months is also required from the prospective adoptive parents so
that their "adjustment and emotional readiness for the legal union" may be
determined.[38] Once the court is satisfied with the results of the trial custody and the
report of the DSWD, a decree of adoption, which states the name that the adopted child
will be known from then on, is issued.[39]
Family Code[edit]
Through Executive Order No. 209, which was enacted on August 3, 1988 by
President Corazon C. Aquino, the Family Code of the Philippines added some new
provisions with regard to adoption.[40] Here, importance was placed on the welfare of the
adoptee, unlike past provisions which prioritized the adopter.[41] The provisions of the
Civil Code of the Philippines with regard to adoption were also repealed. Here, as
opposed to the Civil Code wherein a person of any age may be adopted, only minors
were allowed to be adopted with those older only being adoptable under certain
conditions.[42] It was also here where aliens were disqualified from adopting Filipinos,
except if it were an adoption by a relative provided that: 1) the adopter is a former
Filipino who is adopting a blood relative, 2) the adopter is adopting the legitimate child
of his / her spouse, or 3) the adopter is married to a Filipino citizen and they seek to
jointly adopt the blood relative of the latter. Cases which did not fall under the three
exceptions were subject to the provisions of inter-country adoption but these were not
yet in present in 1988.[43]
Domestic Adoption Act of 1998[edit]
After the Inter-Country Adoption Law was passed in 1995, the DSWD felt that it was
also time to make amendments with regard to Domestic Adoption Laws which led RA
8552, also known as the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998.[41][44] Here, the old provisions
in the Family Code were repealed and more provisions with regard to who can adopt,
particularly those concerned with aliens or foreign nationals, were listed. It was also
stated here that the petition for adoption may only be filed in the "Family Court of the
province or city where the prospective adoptive parents reside."[45][46]
Republic Act 9523[edit]
Further amendments to this were made through RA 9523, which tackled issues about
abandoned children whose parents did not leave signed documents entrusting them to
the DSWD. The time of declaring the individual available for adoption, up until the
certification was shortened from a year to just over a month with the decision to make it
an administrative process instead of a judicial process. Now, one would only need a
certification signed by the DSWD secretary instead of a judicial order for the declaration
of the abandonment of a child.[47]
Foster Care Act of 2012[edit]
On June 11, 2012, Republic Act No. 10165, also known as the Foster Care Act of 2012
was approved by Congress. Here, provisions were made regarding the procedure on
how a foster parent may become the adoptive parents of a child under his care.[47]
Eligibility and requirements[edit]
For Adopters[edit]
The latest eligibility requirements for those who may adopt and may be adopted can be
seen in the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998. According to Article III section 7, "[a]ny
Filipino citizen of legal age, in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, of good
moral character, has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude,
emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children, at least sixteen years
older than the adoptee, and who is in a position to support and care for his / her children
in keeping with the means of the family" may adopt. Also the age gap requirement may
be waived "when the adopter is the biological parent of the adoptee, or is the spouse of
the adoptee's parent." Also "[a]ny alien possessing the same qualifications as above
stated for Filipino nationals: Provided, That his / her country has diplomatic relations
with the Republic of the Philippines, that he / she has been living in the Philippines for at
least three continuous years prior to the filing of the application for adoption and
maintains such residence until the adoption decree is entered, that he / she has been
certified by his / her diplomatic or consular office or any appropriate government agency
that he / she has the legal capacity to adopt in his / her country, and that his / her
government allows the adoptee to enter his / her country as his / her adopted son /
daughter" may adopt. The alien's for requirements for his / her residency and
certification, which are required for adoption, may also be waived if he / she is: 1) "a
former Filipino citizen who seeks to adopt a relative within the fourth degree of
consanguinity", 2) "one who seeks to adopt the legitimate son / daughter of his / her
Filipino spouse", or 3) "one who is married to a Filipino citizen and seeks to adopt jointly
with his / her spouse a relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of the
Filipino spouse". The guardian with respect to the wad after the termination of the
guardianship and clearance of his / her financial accountabilities" is allowed to adopt. [48]
As long as an individual meets all these qualifications, he / she may adopt. This means
that even relatives by blood or affinity may adopt one another. The state does its best to
make sure that the "natural parents’ authority and custody of their children" be
maintained. Only when this fails and when there are no requests by the child's extended
family to adopt him / her does adoption by an unrelated person become considered. [49]
The law also ensures that the adopter has the capacity to raise the adoptee. Hence, he
/ she must be emotionally, psychologically, and financially capable of caring for the
child. These requirements are vital in order to ensure that the quality of life of the natural
children would not be negatively affected by the introduction of the adopted children.
The criteria for evaluating prospective adopters have been taken from the Child Welfare
League of America, Inc. Among these are the prospective adopters’ total personality,
emotional maturity, the quality of their marital relationship, their feeling about children,
their feeling about childlessness and readiness to adopt and motivation. [49][50]
Conviction for a crime is necessary for the disqualification of a prospective adopter
since the accused is always presumed innocent and so commission of a crime would
not necessarily equate to moral turpitude. A pardon from a crime would not rescind the
prospective adopter's disqualification since he / she was still convicted, regardless if the
penalty was imposed or not. The prospective adopter must not have been convicted of
a crime involving moral turpitude since this would affect his / her ability to rear a
child.[50][51]
The age difference of 16 years was formulated as a solution to a problem brought about
by raising the marriageable age. Before, a 15-year age requirement was required since
this was the midway point of the marriageable age of 14 for females and 16 for males.
However, when the marriageable age was raised to 18, the Civil Code Committee,
which drafted the family Code, proposed to have this raised to 18 as well. This was
deemed too much, however, and since a lot of prospective adopters would have been
disqualified if it were to be followed. In order to solve this, the age of difference of 16
years was chosen.[51]
Although the advanced age of prospective adopters is considered, their health and the
kind of home they could provide to the adoptees are more important. Placing a child in
the care of an individual who was advanced in age but in good health was seen as more
desirable than leaving the child with a public agency.[51]
Before, adoption by aliens was prohibited in the provisions of adoption in the Family
Code. However, this was changed as long as the aliens had the added conditions
mentioned above.[51]
With regard to the provisions about the termination of an individual's guardianship
before he / she may be allowed to adopt, this is to ensure that the ward's rights have not
been violated or improperly managed by the guardian. This is also so that conduct of
the guardian's may be evaluated. The guardian must also be financially capable in order
to "prevent unscrupulous guardians from escaping liability for their impropriety." [52]
For Adoptees[edit]
As mandated in Section 8 of the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998, the following may be
adopted: "Any person below eighteen years of age who has been administratively or
judicially declared available for adoption; the legitimate son / daughter of one spouse by
the other spouse; an illegitimate son / daughter by a qualified adopter to improve his /
her status to that of legitimacy; a person of legal age if, prior to the adoption, said
person has been consistently considered and treated by the adopter(s) as his / her own
child since minority; a child whose adoption has been previously rescinded; and a child
whose biological or adoptive parent(s) has died: Provided, That no proceedings shall be
initiated within six months from the time of death of said parent(s)."[53]
Generally, only minors may be adopted since those of legal age are believed to be
capable of taking care of themselves. However, there are exceptions to this namely:
when the adoptee is the illegitimate child of the adopter, when the adoptee is the
legitimate child of his / her spouse, or when the child has been "consistently treated as a
child of the adopter during minority", in which case a de facto adoption is made. This de
factoadoption foregoes the requirement that a child be a minor because of the
assumption that the adoptee was not adopted while he / she was a minor simply
because the adopter failed to do so. However, this de factoadoption must be converted
to a legal adoption for the adoptee to receive all the proper privileges, rights and
duties.[54]
Joint adoption applications[edit]
The provisions with regard to joint adoptions by husband and wife, which were repealed
in the Family Code, were retained in the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998. This is
required for all married couples which want to adopt except in the following cases: 1) "If
one spouse seeks to adopt the legitimate son / daughter of the other", 2) "if one spouse
seeks to adopt his / her own illegitimate son / daughter: Provided, however, That the
other spouse has signified his / her consent thereto", or 3) "if the spouses are legally
separated from each other".[48] The process is similar to normal adoptions. In cases
where there is a conflict between husband and wife, "the father's decision shall prevail
unless there is a judicial order to the contrary" according to Article 211 of the Family
Code.[25][55]
Intercountry adoption[edit]
Evolution of inter-country adoption laws[edit]
Act No. 3094 was the first law for allowed foreign adoption which allowed any public or
charitable child-caring institution to allow adoption for either Filipinos or aliens. In the
Civil Code of 1950, Art. 335 prohibited foreign adoption to countries the Philippines
does not have diplomatic ties with to prevent conflicts of blood and identity in the case
of war. In 1975, the Child and Youth Welfare Code became the legal basis for inter-
country adoption allowing for non-resident aliens to adopt in court if qualified. The shift
of adoption authority from judicial to the Director of Social Services and Development
(DSWD) happened in the Council for the Welfare of Children (1976). When the 1988
Family Code was implemented aliens were disqualified from adopting except a) a
former Filipino citizen adopting a relative, 2) adopting the legitimate child of his/her
Filipino spouse and 3) spouse of a Filipino citizen seeking to adopt jointly a relative of
the Filipino. All aliens not in these allowances have to comply with an inter-country
adoption act the senate made seven years later.[56]
The ratification of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child in 1990 and the Hague
Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect to Inter-country
Adoption drove the Philippines to make R.A. No. 8043.[56]
Inter-country Adoption Act of 1995[edit]
In response to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (September 2, 1990), the
1995 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of
Inter-country Adoption (January 8, 1996), and Art. 184 of the Family Code, the Senate
drafted R.A. No. 8043 which will be the central legal basis for inter-country adoption on
June 7, 1995. This was following Senators Osmena and Coseteng's (sponsor) alarm
over the advertising placements of Filipino children in US publications "that range from
$3000 to $15000".[45][57]
The law applies to aliens except 1) a former Filipino citizen seeking to adopt a relative
by consanguinity, 2) one who seeks to adopt the leigitimate child of his/her Filipino
spouse, 3) joint adoption with a Filipino spouse of his/her relative by consanguinity. as
well as Filipino citizens residing permanently abroad. Aliens must have lived in the
Philippines at least three (3) continuous years before filing for adoption as well as have
a higher minimum age of 27 compared to domestic adoption.
Inter-Country Adoption Board[edit]
The law establishes the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) to be the central authority
in inter-country adoption in the Philippines. They are responsible for licensing local and
foreign child-caring/placement agencies, collecting fees, and matching. The ICAB works
in coordination with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which are all
involved in inter-country adoption.
Guidelines for child adoptability[23][edit]

1. Child must be below 15 years of age

2. Child must be legally free meaning he/she was voluntarily or involuntarily
committed to the DSWD or child-placing or caring agency freely in accordance
with the Child and Youth Welfare Code
Has a certification from DSWD declaring the legality of the child's availability for
adoption (R.A. 9523 of 2009)[edit]

1. Has child study, birth or foundling certificate, deed of voluntary commitment,

medical certificate and psychological evaluation
2. Written consent by the child if he/she is above 10 years of age
Guidelines for Child Adoptee[24][edit]
The alien or Filipino permanently residing abroad must be at least 27 years of age and
16 years older than the child. A joint adoption must be done in the case of marriage.
He/she/they must be eligible to adopt under Philippine, UN and their foreign national
laws from a country wherein the Philippines must have diplomatic relations. From the
Domestic Adoption Act, he/she has to have been living in the Philippines for at least
three (3) continuous years prior to the filing of the petition and stays until the adoption
decree is entered.
According to the ICAB, marital requirements also apply[26]

 Minimum length of marriage requirement for ICA applicants is 3 years;

 Applicants who have lived together in a common law relationship for several years
culminating in a legal marriage must be married for at least one (1) year and the
stability of the relationship prior to marriage ios taken into consideration;
 Single applicants are not prohibited from applying but effective July 2007 the Board
has set a moratorium on the acceptance of single applicants unless the child
preference is a child with special needs (older or sibling group);
 PAPs with history of divorce: since stability of marriage will ensure the permanency
of the placement, a maximum of two (2) divorce histories will be accepted.
Additional requirements set by the ICAB include

 Educational requirements: must have at least a high school diploma

 Income requirements: must have a minimum annual income of US$40,000.00
 Single applicants: Resources for older children between 9–15 years old.
Inter-country adoption procedure[27][edit]
As of Section 10, 11 and 14, the prospective adoptive parent (PAP) must apply to the
ICAB, or the Philippine Regional Trial Court through an intermediate foreign agency.
Requirements such as the applicant's birth certificate, home study, written consent of
biological or adopted children if above 10 years of age, medical and psychological
evaluations, income tax returns and police clearance are needed for the application
process. The waiting period for the Board to approve the application is 3 months to 1
year.
Once the application is approved, matching a suitable child to the family is done
depending on the preferences PAP. The availability of a child for adoption is determined
by the DSWD, determining if it will be in the child's best interests. Matching is done by
the Board which includes the head or social worker of the agency, a child psychologist,
a medical doctor, a lawyer, and a representative of an NGO engaged in child welfare.
The waiting time usually takes 2 to 4 years after the approval of the PAP. Acceptance of
a special needs child or older (73 months and above) generally shortens the waiting
period. Upon approval of the PAPs of the matching, the Philippine law compels
adopters to personally fetch the child from the Philippines not later than thirty (30)
working days after issuance of visa of the child.
The Philippine Inter-country Adoption Law requires a six (6) months post placement
period or trial custody period where three (3) Post Placement Supervisory Reports
along with pictures of the child and the PAPs (or extended family) must be submitted to
the ICAB. If successful, a Consent to Adoption between the parents and the ICAB within
fifteen (15) days of last post placement report. The final step is a petition for adoption
with the court in the country the parent resides.
Penalties[edit]
Knowing violations of the law shall incur monetary fines and imprisonment ranging from
one (1) to twelve (12) years and fines of at least PHP5000. Violations include "1)
consent for adoption taken by coercion, and improper material inducement, 2) no
authority from the Board, 3) procedures and safeguards not complied with, and 4) child
to be adopted is subjected or exposed to danger, abuse and exploitation."
Supporting laws and conventions[56][edit]

 E.O. 209 (Family Code)

 P.D. 603 (Child and Youth Welfare Code)
 Act. No. 3094
 Civil Code of 1995 Art. 335
 A.O. No. 150 of 1981
 E.O. 91
 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified 1990)
 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of
Inter-country Adoption

Facts and figures[edit]

From 2009 to 2015, a total of 4,860 children have been issued a certification declaring
them legally available for adoption, with 2,533 children still waiting to be
adopted.[58] DSWD had reported 9,017 Filipino children matched for inter-country
adoption from 1995 to 2014. In 2014 there were 415 children placed for inter-country
adoption and 1,536 for domestic adoption.[59]
The distribution of children served through child placement services in the Philippines,
both region-wise and age-wise, are found in the table below.[60]

Alternative Family Care Program

Number of Children Served Through Child Placement Policies

Regio
n
Adoption Services
Foster Care
Service
Issued with Issued with Cleared for Inter-
CDCLAA PAPA/ACA Country
 Adoption (ICA)

Tot Mal Fema Tot Mal Fema Tot Mal Fema Tot Mal Fema
al e le al e le al e le al e le

1,98
Total 687 367 320 357 147 210 348 195 153 898 1,087
5

NCR 13 7 6 7 3 4 4 1 3 290 145 145

CAR 16 6 10 21 9 12 9 7 2 67 29 38

I 26 9 17 27 8 19 15 8 7 44 23 21

II 119 68 51 60 19 41 59 38 21 172 55 117

III 17 9 8 7 3 4 4 4 0 110 28 82

IV - A 15 4 11 10 5 5 8 5 3 112 75 37

IV - B 55 31 24 35 17 18 25 13 12 55 37 18

V 72 39 33 30 14 16 48 26 22 54 25 29

VI 22 9 13 2 1 1 9 3 6 42 17 25

VII 6 3 3 3 2 1 4 2 2 70 33 37

VIII 21 10 11 16 6 10 11 6 5 74 26 48
 IX 42 24 18 29 16 13 10 6 4 600 265 335

X 8 8 - 3 0 3 7 3 4 127 66 61

XI 10 4 6 7 1 6 2 0 2 101 43 58

XII 227 124 103 17 8 9 15 8 7 40 14 26

Carag
18 12 6 83 35 48 118 65 53 27 17 10
a

Age
1,98
Grou 687 367 320 357 147 210 348 195 153 898 1,087
5
p

0 to
below 237 124 113 87 36 51 86 60 26 115 38 77
1

1 to
below 255 133 122 161 71 90 117 66 51 229 96 133
5

5 to
below 115 70 45 59 25 34 76 46 30 221 78 143
10

10 to
below 63 31 32 27 6 21 54 16 38 129 60 69
14

14 to 17 9 8 16 6 10 15 7 8 96 32 64
below
 18

18
and 0 7 3 4 0 4 2 2
above

No
age 1,19
0 0 0 592 599
brack 1
et

Notes:
CDCLAA: Certification Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption
PAPA: Pre-Adoption Placement Authority
ACA: Affidavit of Consent to Adoption
Region XII, SOCCSKSARGEN, holds the highest concentration of permanent adoptions
(18.61%, excluding Foster Care services), followed by CARAGA (15.73%). Region VII,
Central Visayas, holds the lowest concentration of permanent adoptions (0.93%).
Similarly computed figures for specific documentation methods for adoption are as
follows:

Issued with CDCLAA:

Highest Region XII (33.04%)

2nd Highest Region II (17.32%)

Lowest Region VII (0.87%)

Issued with PAPA:

Highest Region XII (33.04%)

2nd Highest Region II (17.32%)

Lowest Region VII (0.87%)

Cleared for ICA:

Highest Region XII (33.04%)

2nd Highest Region II (17.32%)

Lowest Region VII (0.87%)

In terms of age group distributions, 1 to below 5 holds the highest concentration

(38.29%, excluding Foster Care Services), followed by 0 to below 1 (29.45%). The
bracket with the lowest concentration is 18 and above (0.5%). Once again, similarly
computed figures for specific documentation methods for adoption are as follows:

Issued with CDCLAA:

Highest 1 to below 5 (37.12%)

2nd Highest 0 to below 1 (34.5%)

Lowest 18 and above (0%)

Issued with PAPA:

Highest 1 to below 5 (45.1%)

2nd Highest 0 to below 1 (24.37%)

Lowest 18 and above (1.96%)

Cleared for ICA:

Highest 1 to below 5 (33.62%)

2nd Highest 0 to below 1 (24.71%)

Lowest 18 and above (0%)

Commonly cited reasons for adoption[edit]

According to Social Welfare Officers in the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, the four most noticeably common reasons for adoption cited are the
following:

1. Mother is not yet of legal age.

2. Relationships are illicit.
3. Pregnancy is the product of abuses, such as rape.
4. Pregnancy is the product of incest.
It has also been noted that while poverty may be assumed by the general public to be a
leading reason for adoption, this has actually not been the case. The DSWD makes
efforts to provide funding and services to families that attempt to put children up for
adoption due to poverty.[61]

Issues[edit]
Single parent adoption[edit]
There is a misconception that only married couples can legally adopt a child in
the Philippines. The Department of Social Welfare and Development allows individual to
adopt a child if they can prove to be capable of adopting a child. Sally Dagulo, head of
the DSWD's Alternative Care Division, claims that the government agency is gender-
sensitive and does not take account the gender orientation of anyone willing to adopt a
child. Religion of a child is only considered when a child legally available for adoption is
6 years old and above, when the child usually already practices a religion. [62]
LGBT adoption[edit]
Same-sex marriage is not allowed in the Philippines; at the same time, homosexuality is
not punishable by law in the country. LGBT adoption remains a gray area in the law on
Philippine adoption. Same-sex couples may not file for joint adoption, given that same-
sex unions is not recognized under the law. However, according to the eligibility
requirements which govern Philippine domestic adoption, there are no explicit laws that
bar LGBTQ+ individuals from adopting children. The requirements for being a
prospective adopter do not take into consideration the adopter's sexual orientation or
gender identity.[63]
While this is the case, prospective LGBT adopters may still be considered unfit to adopt
if the state decides that they do not have “good moral character”. The Civil Code, the
Family Code, and the Child and Youth Welfare Code require that parents must be able
to provide moral formation for the child. The abstract nature of this parental duty leaves
the term open to interpretation. Depending on the inclinations of the state, someone
who is LGBTQ+ may not be allowed to exercise parental authority over a child because
the state has judged them as “immoral”.[64]
Costs[edit]
Social Welfare Officers in the [Office] of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) have cited that common criticisms of adoption include the
difficulty of families to bear excess costs (most notably, legal fees), and the amount of
time it takes for adoption processes to be fully completed, normally within 1–2 years.
The DSWD has cited that they are in the middle of efforts towards consultation
dialogues with court judges, in order to hasten the adoption process.
Stereotypes of adoption in media[edit]
Adoption cases are generally painted in a negative light, resulting from the stigma
against foster parents being infertile couples. There is also a pervasive concept of
the ampon who is viewed as a victim of abuse that prevents him or her from developing
into a fully functioning adult. The DSWD has called out the exaggerated depiction of
adoption in Philippine media; secretary Corazon Soliman of the DSWD has urged those
responsible, such as telenovela writers, to portray cases of adoption in a good light
instead.[65]

References[edit]

1. ^ Pangalangan, Elizabeth A. (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but Still My Own: A

Treatise on the Philippine Adoption. Quezon City: University of the Philippines
College of Law. p. 181.
2. ^ editor, Connaught Marshner, (1999). Adoption factbook III. Washington, DC:
National Council for Adoption. pp. 10–13. ISBN 0-9615820-3-0.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Republic Act No. 8552, Section 4. February 25, 1998.
4. ^ Republic Act No. 9523, Section 7. March 12, 2009.
5. ^ Republic Act No. 9523, Section 3. March 12, 2009.
6. ^ Republic Act No. 9523, Section 2. March 12, 2009.
7. ^ Republic Act 8552, Section 3. February 25, 1998.
8. ^ Supreme Court Rule on Adoption, Section 3. 2002.
9. ^ DSWD Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8552, Section 19.
December 8, 1998.
10. ^ DSWD Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8552, Section 3. December
8, 1998.
11. ^ DSWD Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8552, Section 23.
December 8, 1998.
12. ^ Supreme Court Rule on Adoption, Section 7.
13. ^ Supreme Court Rule on Adoption, Sections 7 and 10.
14. ^ Supreme Court Rule on Adoption, Section 8.
15. ^ Supreme Court Rule on Adoption, Section 9.
16. ^ Supreme Court Rule on Adoption, Section 14.
17. ^ Republic Act No. 8552, Section 13. February 25, 1998.
18. ^ Republic Act No. 8552, Section 14. February 25, 1998.
19. ^ Republic Act No. 8552, Section 16. February 25, 1998.
20. ^ 9th Global Consultation on Child Welfare Services. DSWD. 2007. p. 30.
21. ^ editor, Connaught Marshner, (1999). Adoption factbook III. Washington, DC:
National Council for Adoption. pp. 500–501. ISBN 0-9615820-3-0.
22. ^ "Department of Social Welfare and Development | LOCAL ADOPTION:
REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES". Dswd.gov.ph. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
23. ^ Jump up to:a b "Guzman Tañedo & Acain - Procedure for inter-country adoption
(RA 8043)". www.gtalawphil.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
24. ^ Jump up to:a b "FAQ | Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB)". Retrieved 2016-
04-22.
25. ^ Jump up to:a b Sta. Maria, Jr., Melencio S. (2015). Persons and Family
Relations Law. Manila City: REX Book Store. p. 722.
26. ^ Jump up to:a b "R.A. 9523". Retrieved 2016-04-22.
27. ^ Jump up to:a b Guzman Tañedo & Acain. "Procedure for inter-country adoption
(RA 8043)". Retrieved 2016-04-22.
28. ^ Pangalangan, Elizabeth A. (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but Still My Own: A
Treatise on the Philippine Adoption. Quezon City: University of the Philippines
College of Law. p. 27.
29. ^ Jump up to:a b Pangalangan, Elizabeth A (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but Still
My Own: A Treatise on the Philippine Adoption. Quezon City: University of the
Philippines College of Law. p. 28.
30. ^ Civil Code of the Philippines
31. ^ Civil Code of the Philippines, Article 335
32. ^ Pangalangan, Elizabeth A. (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but Still My Own: A
Treatise on the Philippine Adoption. Quezon City: University of the Philippines
College of Law. p. 29.
33. ^ Civil Code of the Philippines, Article 334
34. ^ Civil Code of the Philippines, Articles 337-344, 348
35. ^ Child and Youth Welfare Code
36. ^ Pangalangan, Elizabeth A (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but Still My Own: A
Treatise on the Philippine Adoption. Quezon City: University of the Philippines
College of Law. p. 31.
37. ^ Child and Youth Welfare Code, Article 33
38. ^ Child and Youth Welfare Code, Article 35
39. ^ Child and Youth Welfare Code, Article 36
40. ^ Family Code of the Philippines
41. ^ Jump up to:a b Pangalangan, Elizabeth A. (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but
Still My Own: A Treatise on the Philippine Adoption. Quezon City: University of
the Philippines College of Law. p. 32.
42. ^ Family Code of the Philippines, Article 183
43. ^ 9th Global Consultation on Child Welfare Services. DSWD. 2007. p. 23.
44. ^ Domestic Adoption Act of 1998
45. ^ Jump up to:a b Pangalangan, Elizabeth A. (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but
Still My Own: A Treatise on the Philippine Adoption. Quezon City: University of
the Philippines College of Law. pp. 60–64.
46. ^ 9th Global Consultation on Child Welfare Services. DSWD. 2007. p. 24.
47. ^ Jump up to:a b Pangalangan, Elizabeth A. (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but
Still My Own: A Treatise on the Philippine Adoption. Quezon City: University of
the Philippines College of Law. p. 33.
48. ^ Jump up to:a b Domestic Adoption Act of 1998, Article III Section 7
49. ^ Jump up to:a b Sta. Maria, Jr., Melencio S. (2015). Persons and Family
Relations Law. Manila City: REX Book Store. p. 717.
50. ^ Jump up to:a b Sta. Maria, Jr., Melencio S. (2015). Persons and Family
Relations Law. Manila City: REX Book Store. p. 718.
51. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Sta. Maria, Jr., Melencio S. (2015). Persons and Family
Relations Law. Manila City: REX Book Store. p. 719.
52. ^ Sta. Maria, Jr., Melencio S. (2015). Persons and Family Relations Law. Manila
City: REX Book Store. p. 721.
53. ^ Domestic Adoption Act of 1998, Article III Section 8
54. ^ Sta. Maria, Jr., Melencio S. (2015). Persons and Family Relations Law. Manila
City: REX Book Store. p. 723.
55. ^ Family Code of the Philippines, Article 211
56. ^ Jump up to:a b c Pangalangan, Elizabeth A. (2013). Not Bone of My Bone but
Still My Own. Quezon City: University of the Philippines College of Law. pp. 35–
41.
57. ^ Lim-Jardaleza, Concepcion; Apolona, Gerrome (1997). Legal Aspects of Inter-
country Adoption. Quezon: Institute of Judicial Administration, UP Law Center.
p. 33.
58. ^ Department of Social Welfare and Development (February 26, 2015). "Legal
adoption: Placing a child with a loving family". Retrieved April 22, 2016.
59. ^ Rodriguez, Fritzie (February 26, 2015). "Consider adopting a child, gov't asks
couples". Retrieved April 23, 2016 – via www.rappler.com.
60. ^ Retrieved from the Policy Development and Planning Bureau, Department of
Social Welfare and Services, on 2016, April 14.
61. ^ Interview with Social Welfare Officer, Department of Social Welfare and
Services. 11 April 2016.
62. ^ "Adoption open to singles–DSWD | Inquirer News". Newsinfo.inquirer.net. 12
February 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
63. ^ Go-Evangelista, Ronald Brian (2006). "Philippine Inter-Country Adoption Laws
and the Foreign Homosexual Couple as Prospective Adoptive
Parents" (PDF). Philippine Law Journal. Retrieved April 24,2016.
64. ^ Abrenica, Jessica; Asuncion, Amabelle; Katigbak, Mona Francesca (June
2001). "Beyond Malakas and Maganda: Re-welcoming the Baybayan into the
Filipino Family" (PDF). Philippine Law Journal. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
65. ^ Esmaquel, Paterno II (24 March 2012). "DSWD: Get rid of adoption
stereotypes on TV". Rappler. Retrieved 23 April 2016.