ILOILO City – Adopted and foster parents in Western Visayas are heroes for their bravery and love in opening their homes to children in need, according to the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the recent Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week.
“If it were not for them, we would not be here celebrating and recognizing their strength and dedication to providing a loving home to children,” said Janice Braseliño, the officer-in-charge of RACCO in Western Visayas.
In a media forum organized by RACCO and the National Authority For Child Care (NACC) here, Braseliño emphasized the significant role these parents play in the lives of their adopted and foster children.
The event was part of a weeklong celebration mandated by Section 57 of Republic Act 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, which designates the second week of June as Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week.
This year’s theme, “#everychildmatters: A New Era in Adoption and Alternative Child Care”, reflected the evolving perspectives and practices in child care and adoption.
Braseliño said the acknowledgment of adopted and foster parents as “real heroes” is not just for their courage but also for the challenges they willingly embrace.
The initiative to raise awareness about adoption and alternative child care is a year-round advocacy. According to Braseliño, the region has seen a very positive reception to these programs, possibly due to active advocacy campaigns by RACCO.
Noting the cultural acceptance and pride associated with adoption in Western Visayas, Braseliño said, “People realize how wonderful the adoption and foster care journey is. It’s a story of love, and being adopted is something to be proud of. It represents the essence of family — ordinary yet exceptional.”
RACCO aims to eliminate illegal forms of adoption, such as the simulation of birth records. Simulation of birth records involves tampering with the civil registry to falsely document a child’s birth to someone who is not the biological parent, leading to the loss of the child’s true identity and status./PN
