TARLAC CITY, Tarlac – The Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO III) warned the public against Illegal adoption during the Adoption and Alternative Child Care Press Conference on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Bulwagan ng mga Gobernador, Tarlac Capitol.
“Sa mga nagbabalak na gumawa lalo na yung illegal adoption, huwag ninyong subukan kasi po may kaakibat ito na parusa. Yun ay ang pagkakakulong. Especially ang involved po dito mga bata, pwede itong mag-fall under qualified trafficking, most especially may involved na bayaran sa baby-selling cases,” said Edren Mayo, Legal Officer of RACCO III.
Meanwhile, the agency clarified that the reminder serves as a proactive measure to keep the province safe from child exploitation, noting that there are currently no recorded cases of baby-selling in Tarlac.
“We are very fortunate dito sa Tarlac, presently wala pa namang baby-selling recorded sa opisina namin, so we are very fortunate… Ang ginagawa ng opisina namin to fight illegal adoption is we are partnering with law enforcement agencies para mapahinto natin yung paggawa ng illegal adoption,” he added.
Mayo encouraged the public to either coordinate with RACCO or visit their Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) Office to learn the proper adoption process and avoid illegal adoption arrangements.
Under Republic Act 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, the legal adoption process in the Philippines has been simplified and shifted from judicial courts to administrative proceedings through RACCO, making it faster and less expensive for prospective parents.
Previously, legal adoption could take two to five years or more due to the court ruling. But, under the new law, enacted on January 6, 2022, the process has become entirely administrative under the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) or RACCO, effectively reducing the target timeline to just six to nine months.
Through this improved process, the NACC has already provided permanent families to 3,818 children nationwide, with RACCO III issuing 200 Orders of Adoption across Central Luzon.
A total of 25 petitions for adoption in the province have been received and filed. Seventeen of these cases have already been issued official Orders of Adoption, while the remaining eight petitions are currently undergoing the administrative process.
The press conference was organized as part of the Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week (AACCW), an annual celebration that aims to raise awareness, encourage public support, and highlight the importance of legal adoption and alternative child care for Filipino children in need of loving and permanent families. Photos by Joseph Mendoza and Skhy Asuncion
