DSWD urges childless couples to adopt a child
Social workers Hope Suoberon and Cecile Gabito
gives information materials to one of the shoppers.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI is urging childless couples and even single individuals to adopt a child now.
"We aim to find many prospective adoptive parents for neglected, abandoned and orphaned children," said Teresita S. Rosales, OIC Regional Director of DSWD here as the department spearheaded the observance of the Adoption Consciousness Week from February 3 to 11 with the theme, "Wastong Pag-aampon, Bata at Pamilya may Proteksyon."
According to Rosario Sanagustin, unit head of the Retained Community-Based Services of DSWD, there are about 18 children in Western Visayas who are ready for adoption. Out of this number, 10 children are from Negros Occidental while eight children are from Iloilo.
"There may be financial constraints in undergoing the legal process of adoption but in the end, this protects the adoptive parents and the rights of the adopted child as well. This is the reason why we encourage more people to adopt a child," added Sanagustin.
The DSWD has recently put up an Adoption Help Booth at SM City Iloilo from February 9 to 11, 2007. The booth was manned by Social Workers who have handled adoption cases.
Aside from information materials and personnel of the department who are ready to answer queries, a powerpoint presentation on adoption is also continuously shown.
A series of media guestings with media partners such as Aksyon Radyo, IBC TV 12 and dyLL Radyo ng Bayan were also conducted.
Adoption Consciousness is annually observed with the objective of finding home to children who were given up by their natural parents.
(dswd6/mcastillo)