February 15, 2016 – The Department of Social Welfare and Development leads this year’s celebration of National Adoption Consciousness Week from February 15-24, 2016.

The celebration, with the continuing 2015 theme “Legal na ampon ako: Anak na Totoo”, aims to raise and intensify the public’s awareness on legal adoption of abandoned, surrendered and neglected Filipino children through various activities highlighting the said theme.

The set of activities is scheduled to be conducted from February 15-24, 2016 to start with series of media appearances by DSWD IX personnel to educate the public about adoption, especially on the adoption process, documentary requirements, procedures and benefits.

The agency will also be setting up adoption help desks in selected malls, like KCC Mall de Zamboanga on February 17, 2016. This will serve as an information center where the public can inquire about the legal procedures.

Aside from this, photos featuring adoption stories written by adoptive families themselves will also be displayed in the same mall, highlighting the adoption lifelong journey of adoptees who are now successful in their respective fields.

As part of the adoption process, DSWD IX will also conduct a Regional Adoption Forum on February 19, 2016 (venue TBA) in Zamboanga City wherein potential adoptive parents are invited to attend. This will serve as a venue where authorized agencies can respond to inquiries of the public on adoption and other alternative family care programs.

The celebration will culminate on February 24 through a motorcade and an orientation with selected barangay officials on adoption and foster care guidelines and referral pathways.

DSWD IX through its Social Marketing Unit will be providing updates on all the activities scheduled through they’re official social media pages on facebook and twitter. Just follow DSWD Region IX for facebook and @dswdfo9 for twitter.