DAGUPAN CITY, February 29 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warned against birth simulation, a criminal offense, as a form of adoption.
Iryn Cubangbang, information officer of DSWD in the Ilocos, said that birth simulation or the tampering of the civil registry birth records of a child is against the law and punishable with imprisonment, plus a fine not exceeding P50,000.
“Those wanting to adopt children should go through the legal adoption process to avoid problems,” Cubangbang said.
She said children with simulated birth certificates will have to correct their papers to make everything legal, especially if he or she will go abroad.
To encourage prospective adoptive parents to give hope to the abandoned, orphaned and neglected children, the DSWD is spearheading this week the country’s observance of Adoption Consciousness Week with the theme “Legal na Ampon Ako: Anak na Totoo.”
“The celebration’s theme emphasizes that adopted children have the same rights as the biological ones,” she said during the KBP Forum held at the PIA-Pangasinan office here on Thursday.
Cubangbang said prospective adoptive parents don’t have to be rich, as long as they have the heart to share a family to these children and the capability to secure their best interest are enough reasons to make a difference in giving these children a chance to live a better life.
As part of the celebration, DSWD set up Adoption Help Desks in selected malls nationwide, including SM City Rosales on February 20-21 to respond to inquiries of the public on adoption and foster care laws in an effort to increase the number of adoptive and foster parents. (MCA/AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan)