DSWD to adoptive parents: Spread love, undergo legal adoption
"Spread unconditional love through legal adoption."
This was the message of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the public, as it leads the week-long Adoption Consciousness Celebration (ACC) from February 6 to 12.

The DSWD vowed to step up its efforts to promote legal adoption as a form of unconditional love between parents and their adopted children.
"DSWD will continue to intensify the advocacy efforts to promote legal adoption as the only way to safeguard the best interest of abandoned, neglected, orphaned, and surrendered children,” it said in a statement.
The theme of this year’s celebration is Pagmamahal Palaganapin, Legal na Pag-aampon Ating Gawin! (Spread Unconditional Love Through Legal Adoption).
The DSWD reminded families to undergo legal adoption to protect the welfare of their adopted children.
Legal adoption is the only way to ensure that adopted children will have the same rights as that of biological children, it said.
The different messages of support of adoptive parents and adopted children will be showcased during the ACC’s virtual kickoff on February 6.
Two animated videos, which were created in partnership with Consuelo Alger Foundation and the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) will also be launched, according to the DSWD.
It said the first animated video zeroes in on the implementation of Republic Act No. 11222, the Simulated Birth Rectification Act, while the second video features the legal process of relinquishing parental authority through a notarized Deed of Voluntary Commitment to the DSWD or any duly licensed or accredited child placement or child-caring agency or institution.
Also part of the ACC celebration is the conduct of an online media forum featuring legal adoption implementers from the national and local government, representatives from child-caring and child-placement agencies, and adoptive parents.
The forum, which will be posted live on the official DSWD Facebook page, will discuss topics on the efforts of DSWD and partner-agencies in continuously implementing and providing services to children in need of permanent families and to prospective adopters amidst the pandemic,
The DSWD is encouraging those who have questions about the legal process of adoption to send inquiries through the DSWD online adoption helpdesk link that will be pinned and posted on the official page of the Department.