In photo (from left to right): Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages, Mario A. Deriquito; Jona R. Mocam (2nd runner up); Joyce Ken Lei D. Daquio (1st runner up); Ena Francesca R. Cadayona (grand champion); and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Protective Services Bureau OIC-Assistant Director, Rosalie D. Dagulo.

For the finale of the 2016 Adoption Consciousness Week Celebration, 16 of the best young orators from all regions in the country participated in the Oratorical Contest Grand Finals and Awarding Ceremony on July 28 at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, Deparment of Education (DepEd) Complex in Pasig City.

The event was a joint project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the DepEd to challenge the speaking skills of high school students and develop their understanding and appreciation on the importance of legal adoption.

Highlighting the theme, “Legal na Ampon Ako: Anak na Totoo (A Child Finds Worth in Legal Adoption),” the young orators were given seven to ten minutes to persuade the judges on the significance of following the process of legal adoption and keeping in mind the best interest of a child.

From the pool of contestants, Ena Francesca R. Cadayona from Caraga National High School bagged the grand prize in the national oratorical contest, followed by Joyce Ken Lei D. Daquio (1st runner up) from Kidapawan City National High School,  and Jona R. Mocam (2nd runner up) from Matanao National High School in Davao del Sur.

The three winners received cash prizes, plaques and freebies from the sponsors of the event.

Legal adoption protects child’s rights

As the lead agency protecting the welfare of children, DSWD promotes legal adoption to ensure that the rights of children are protected.

For the second quarter of 2016, there were already 155 children locally matched or placed-out to prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) and 203 children endorsed to the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) for inter-country adoption.

For 2017, the Department aims to increase the number of local prospective adoptive parents and raise the number of placed-out children eligible for adoption within the prescribed turnaround time.

DSWD also warned the public on simulation of birth or the tampering of the civil registry of the child so that adoptive parents can have their names on the child’s birth certificate.

“Sa mga taong nais mag-ampon, ang simulation of birth ay isang krimen na hindi dapat gawin. Mas makakabuti kung susundin natin ang legal na proseso para masigurado ang kapakanan ng ating mga anak (To anyone who wants to adopt a child, simulation of birth is a crime that should not be done. It is better to follow the legal process of adoption to ensure our children’s welfare),” DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo reminded the public. ###