NATIONAL Authority for Child Care (NACC) Undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada showcased the Philippines’ best practices in alternative childcare and inter-country adoption during a South Korea conference last week.
“Nothing we do for children is ever wasted because every child deserves love and every child matters,” said Estrada as she presented the new administrative adoption landscape in the Philippines.
She made her presentation at the HCCH (Hague Conference on Private International Law) Asia Pacific Week from June 25 to 28 in Seoul, South Korea.
In a presentation titled ‘Philippines’ Tasks, Challenges, and Good Practices in Implementing the 1993 Adoption Convention,’ Estrada underscored the innovative changes and best practices that the Philippines has undertaken since the establishment of the NACC for streamlined programs and services on adoption and alternative child care per Republic Act 11642, or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act.
As a panelist, the NACC executive director shared some of the strategies and good practices in the country’s Inter-Country Adoption (ICA) program.
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Estrada said that the program involves the preparation of a comprehensive child case study report, the conduct of a judicious three-tiered matching process of children before they can be cleared for inter-country adoption, an established policy and legal frameworks for both domestic administrative and inter-country adoptions and strong collaboration and programs with stakeholders.
Moreover, she said that the NACC has developed an information technology system primarily designed to enhance case management and streamline administrative systems and processes.
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Under the ICA Program, Estrada reported that the NACC is currently working with some 27 accredited foreign adoption agencies and 40 central authorities for the placement of children cleared for ICA, “those children who are aging out, with siblings and with disabilities who can no longer be adopted domestically.”
“Inter-country adoption becomes their last bastion of hope in finding their forever families and that is why the NACC will continue to strengthen ICA through its initiative to transition to finalized administrative inter-country adoption,” she told the HACC event.
She pointed out that the NACC’s work is “rooted in shared principles on child protection, ethical practice and adherence to international standards so as every child in need of a family is placed with the most suitable adoptive parents, guided by the child’s best interest and the highest standards of care.”
The former San Juan vice mayor and daughter of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada announced the conduct of the 18th Global Consultation on Inter-Country Adoption and Child Welfare Development in October this year in Cebu City, to be hosted by the Philippine government through the NACC.
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Issues to be tackled in the next consultation include emerging trends and challenges, illegal adoption, online baby selling and efforts to curb child trafficking.
