Requirements for LGBTQIA+ members to adopt a child laid out

Local

MEMBERS of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Philippines can apply for adoption under the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act of 2022 (RA 11642). However, the law allows only individuals to adopt, meaning same-sex couples are not eligible to adopt a child together.

Cyrene Anna Torres, a social welfare officer at the Regional Alternative Child Care Office-Central Visayas (RACCO-7), explained they must do so as single petitioners.

She explained that, although same-sex marriage is not yet accepted in the Philippines, LGBTQIA+ individuals have the right to adopt individually.

The LGBTQIA+ acronym stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual, encompassing a broad spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities.

To adopt, LGBTQIA+ individuals must meet the same requirements as other applicants, such as being at least 25 years old, a Filipino citizen, and 16 years older than the child.

Foreign nationals who have lived in the Philippines for at least five years and meet certain conditions can also apply.

May Sunshine Sastre, head of RACCO 7’s Placement Section, shared that the office has received applications from LGBTQIA+ individuals wanting to adopt.

She described cases where a female applicant with a lesbian partner lists herself as the mother or single petitioner in the adoption application.

RA 11642, enacted in 2022, simplified the adoption process by removing the expensive and lengthy court procedures.

Sastre noted that the law has made adoption more accessible, especially for middle-income earners who wish to provide loving homes for children in need.

Prospective adoptive parents can begin the process by contacting their local social welfare offices. After submitting an application, they must attend a pre-adoption forum and complete required training, which can be done online for those living abroad.

The RACCO manages the adoption process, including issuing certifications, matching children with prospective parents, and handling inter-country adoptions.(MyTVCebu)