DAVAO CITY (PIA) – With the adoption process made inexpensive and simpler, more couples and individuals have shown interest in seeking inquiries and orientation on adoption from the office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region.

Eden Macalino, officer-in-charge of DSWD-XI’s Regional Alternative Child Care (RACC-XI) Office, said that the adoption process in the country has been improved through the passage of Republic Act No. 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption Act.

DSWD-XI has catered to seven adoptive applicants as of November 2022, Macalino bared during Monday’s (January 30) Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao.

“This time, we have a lot of adoptive applicants who visit our office to apply for adoption. Our applicants are coming from across the region. They visit at least once a month for the orientation,” she stated.

Macalino also explained the process of domestic adoption such as the series of assessments, recommendations, matching and administrative adoption, and birth certificate issuance.

DSWD-XI’s social welfare officer Shayne Sampiano also reported that since 2010, there have been a total of 648 children in Davao Region who were issued with Certification Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA).

Sampiano added that DSWD-XI’s RACC office is open to facilitate adoption process with other cities and regions, as well as inter-country adoption. (PIA-XI/Franchette Delfin)