Some twenty-four couples coming from Tacloban City, and the towns of Palo, Alang-alang, Carigara, Capoocan, Matag-ob, Abuyog, and MacArthur, all of Leyte province, attended a one-day Adoption/Foster Care Forum late March of this year.  The fora were conducted in two batches, in Tacloban City and Abuyog.

The conduct of the forum is necessary before engaging  into adoption,  serving as venue for discussion with prospective adoptive and foster couples/families and individuals on the policies and procedures on adoption and foster care.  Said DSWD Field Office Eight Director Leticia Corillo,  it will also pave the way towards assessing their capabilities to adopt/foster a child.

She, however, emphasized that the adoptive couple or individual should take the child as their own, once the latter is legalized.  Thus, Corillo added, “ through the forum, we will be identifying  potential parents who are emotionally, financially, and psychologically capable for adoption or foster care.”

On the other hand, Operations Division chief Virginia Idano, told the participants that they need to be aware of their roles and responsibilities in adopting and foster caring a child, wanting of love and a permanent home.

Last year, there were a total of 47 cases served for adoption, while there were 29 children placed under foster care to licensed foster families.