The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will hold a media forum regarding Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week 2023 with the theme: #Every Child Matters: A New Era in Adoption and Alternative Child Care held at the Gloria Maris Sharks Fin Restaurant in Greenhills San Juan.
It highlight the updates on administrative adoption, foster care and other forms of alternative child care set forth in R.A. 11642. Stakeholders both in the public service sector and the private sector. The attendees are USec. Janella Ejercito-Estrada of the NACC and DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian and messages from Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov the Representative to the Philippines from the United nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Also message from USec. Angelo M. Tapales of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and a presentation on Success Stories of Adoption, Foster Care and Independent Living Program as well as a wall signing about #EVERYCHILDMATTERS and the forum synthesis was provided by USec. Janella Ejercito-Estrada.///Mj Olvina-Balaguer, +639053611058, maryjaneolvina@gmail.com and konekted@dzmjonline.net DZMJ ONLINE MAKABULUHANG JORNALISMO YOUR HAPPINESS CHANNEL
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Omnibus guidelines on adoption, alternative child care
launched
MANILA – The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) launched on Wednesday, 07 June 2023, the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Domestic Administrative Adoption, Intercountry Adoption, and Alternative Child Care provided for in R.A. 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption Act.
The Omnibus Guidelines strengthens R.A. 11642 and Government programs on alternative child care by providing clear rules on the implementation of domestic and intercountry adoption and other alternative child care methods.
“The Omnibus Guidelines is a step-by-step detail on the implementation of alternative child care programs and services. These were the unwritten rules, the used to be gray areas that required judgement call. With the Omnibus Guidelines, we strive to be accurate, clear and up to date in the exercise of our mandate and the delivery of Government programs and services, said NACC Undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada.
“Our paramount consideration is to ensure that every child remains under the care and custody of the parents and be provided with love, care, understanding, and security towards the full and harmonious development of the child’s personality,” Undersecretary Estrada stressed.”
The Omnibus Guidelines reinforces the general principles of alternative child care with biological Family as carers; the principle of subsidiarity that the latter is in the best interest of the child, the emphasis for family reunification and reintegration in the community; alternative child care programs; and the determination of the most suitable foster or adoptive family.
“The Omnibus Guidelines is a testament of our shared values and collective goals to provide the best and most suitable care to all children especially those who have no one to care for them. Every child must be nourished as a free individual in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, tolerance, and universal brotherhood” Estrada stressed.
Among the salient features of R.A. 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption Act that the Omnibus Guidelines is reinforcing the transfer of adoption proceedings from judicial to administrative via the NACC; mandatory adoption telling; the conduct of adoption-themed activities for adopted children; the use of social media as means in locating birthparents; the matching process; establishment of database on adoption; extension of legal relationship to the adoptive parents’ relatives; adoption by qualified foreign nationals; requirements for the registration of foundlings or those with no known birth facts; steps on independently placed children; the mandatory appearance of adoptive parents(s) during the adoption period; and the annual celebration of Alternative Child Care Week every second week of June.
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DSWD Secretary Gatchalian speaks before the 29th ASCC Meeting in Indonesia
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the Philippine ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Leader, led the country’s delegation to the 29th ASCC Meeting in Bali, under Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, on Monday, May 8.
Secretary Gatchalian later delivered a country statement before the delegates and participants to the 29th ASCC Meeting.
The ASCC is a crucial pillar of ASEAN that aims to contribute to the development of a people-oriented and socially responsible ASEAN Community that promotes enduring solidarity and unity among its peoples and Member States.
During the ASCC Meeting, Secretary Gatchalian and other high-level officials extended their full support to Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship with its theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.”
In his country statement Secretary Gatchalian emphasized the need to develop human capital and promote social progress, alongside economic growth.
“The ASCC has a crucial role in ensuring that we build a community that is inclusive and equitable, one that empowers all our citizens and leaves no one behind. To achieve this, we must focus on enhancing education and skills development, promoting social welfare and development, strengthening social protection, and creating a more people-centered ASEAN community,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
“As we move towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that we rebuild better and create a more resilient society. The ASCC can play a significant role in this by working closely with other ASEAN pillars to develop cross-sectoral initiatives that promote sustainable development and contribute to regional stability,” the DWSD Secretary pointed out.
The ASCC Meeting focused on three priorities: ASEAN Matters; Epicentrum of Growth and Implementation of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
The 29th ASCC Meeting intends to realize these priorities, with a particular focus on the ASCC Pillar, including strengthening regional health architecture, empowering villages to fast-track rural development, promoting environmental cooperation, protecting ASEAN migrant workers and enhancing the capacity of workers for the Future of Work, as well as strengthening disability-inclusive development.
The attendees shared their views on the importance of engaging civil society and vulnerable groups, strengthening people-to-people ties and ASEAN Identity, youth empowerment, strengthening regional health architecture, and emphasizing a cross-sectoral and cross-pillar perspective in addressing future issues, among other topics.
The Meeting also highlighted the strategic direction of ASEAN as the Epicentrum of Growth and the ASCC Post-2025 Vision towards ASEAN 2045.
The ASCC also looked forward towards the adoption of four outcome documents, including the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on One Health Initiative, ASEAN Declaration on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations, ASEAN Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers and ASEAN Leaders’ Joint Statement on the Establishment of an ASEAN Villages Network.
Some ASCC Ministers will proceed to Labuan Bajo for the 42nd ASEAN Summit to be attended by Heads of Government and Heads of State from the 10 ASEAN Member Countries on May 10-11.
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