Adoption in the Philippines

Adoption in the Philippines is the act of adoption, of permanently placing a minor with a parent or parents other than the birth parents in the Philippines.

Types

The Department of Social Welfare and Development defines adoption of having three types which are agency adoption, family or relative adoption and private or independent adoption.

Agency adoptions are adoptions made through the Department of Social Welfare and Development or licensed child-placing agencies.

Family or relative adoptions is the act of placing a child under a family relative.

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.^[1]

Issues

Single parent adoption

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.^[2]

LGBT adoption

They are no laws preventing from members of the LGBT community to adopt a child, although by the virtue of the Family Code, gay couples are barred from legally having a joint adoption. Only married couples are allowed to have joint adoption and marriage is defined as a marriage between a man and a woman only. Same-sex marriage is unrecognized in the country. Although it is possible for a homosexual individual to adopt a child, there are sensitive issues present. It is possible to bar a homosexual individual from adopting a child through the "good moral character" criteria as some sectors of the Philippine society view that homosexuality is immoral.^[3]

Portrayal of adopted children and orphanages in the Media

Department of Social Welfare and Development criticized negative portrayal of adopted children and orphanages in the media. Adopted children are often portrayed as victims of abuse by their adopted parents. Orphanages are also often depicted to force children to do heavy chores. The agency made clear with teledrama scriptwriters that being adopted doesn't make one less of a person and noted the media's responsibility to portray the issue of adoption in the country.^[4]

References

1. "Department of Social Welfare and Development | LOCAL ADOPTION: REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES". Dswd.gov.ph. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
2. "Adoption open to singles–DSWD | Inquirer News". Newsinfo.inquirer.net. 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
3. Go-Evangelista, Ronald Brian. "PHILIPPINE INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION LAws AND THE FOREIGN HOMOSEXUAL COUPLE AS PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS" (PDF). Philippine Law Journal 81: 34–40. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
4. Esmaquel, Paterno II (24 March 2012). "DSWD: Get rid of adoption stereotypes on TV". Rappler. Retrieved 4 January 2014.