The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) hailed the Congress’ ratification of a bicameral committee report on a bill seeking to simplify the country’s adoption process.

The DSWD described as a “milestone legislation” the proposed “Domestic Administration Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act” which provides that the Inter Country Adoption Board will be reorganized into the National Authority for Child Care (NACC).

“The new bill is a milestone legislation since it will ensure that the best interest of Filipino children in need of alternative care will be immediately addressed through foster care and permanent families will be found through an administrative process of legal adoption,” it said in a statement.

The bill allows simpler and inexpensive administrative adoption proceedings.

"The Department has advocated to make legal adoption an administrative process. It is envisioned that the bill will encourage more Filipino families to legally adopt children and completely eradicate the crime of simulation of births.”

The DSWD expressed hope that the bill “will ensure implementation of standards regarding the living conditions of children under alternative care which will be conducive to their holistic development.”

Under the bill, the NACC is tasked to handle all applications, petitions, and inquiries regarding alternative child care in the country.

“The DSWD expressed its full support towards the signing of the bill into law and will continue to advocate for legal adoption as the only legitimate process to ensure and safeguard the best interest of abandoned, neglected, orphaned, and surrendered Filipino children.”