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Philippines

UPDATE: Wereldkinderen is no longer accepting new applications for the Philippines. Word has come from the Philippines that they are (initially) temporarily no longer accepting new applications, as there are still enough prospective adoptive parents on their waiting list and more children can now be adopted within the Philippines. Wereldkinderen does not expect to be able to send new files to the Philippines in the future.

Adoption from the Philippines

Do you consider adopting a child from the Philippines? You can read more about this on this page. The interest of the child is always the most important factor, you can read more about this at our basic principles.

Wereldkinderen has been a mediator for the Philippines for more than 40 years now. In the past four years 55 children from the Philippines found a home in the Netherlands via Wereldkinderen.

 

Background

The children that qualify for foreign adoption vary in age between 1.5 up to 6 years old. The children basically all have a severely burdened history of origin. Some children are abandoned children. The children basically all have skin problems and/or bronchial tubes problems. The children are taken to a children’s shelter or foster family fairly soon after they are born and they are lovingly taken care of in these shelters and foster families.

Conditions

All applications are assessed by Wereldkinderen. Wereldkinderen prioritizes the specific needs and rights of children.

In order to be able to adopt a child from the Philippines, you have to meet the following conditions:

  • You possess a valid principle consent
  • You are married, or at least married for one year and can show that you have been living together before you got married for a longer period of time
  • You give permission for and are open for the adoption of a child with a minimum age of 36 months old
  • If you already have a child living with you, then you can only start the adoption procedure when the youngest child is at least 4.5 years old. You can register at Wereldkinderen at an earlier date though, for you will then be placed on the waiting-list.
  • You give permission for and are open for the adoption of a child with a severely burdened history of origin
  • You were not divorced more often than twice
  • You have graduated from secondary school
  • Your annual income is at least US $40,000
  • You are both at least 27 years old, the age difference between the child and the adoptive mother is not more than 45 years
  • One parent, preferably two, is able to travel
  • You are both at least five years actively religious. You have to be able to prove this by a statement of your church
  • You write a letter about your faith and how you experience your religion
  • You are both healthy
  • Neither of you has ever suffered from, or is currently suffering from any of the following medical conditions: diabetes mellitus, cancer, a kidney transplant or other organ transplants (heart, lungs, liver), a pacemaker, a heart attack, muscle conditions, a cerebral infarction, MS, autoimmune disease, being completely blind, being completely deaf, being bound to a wheelchair, hepatitis C
  • Neither of you has had, or is currently suffering from one of the following mental conditions: mental disorders, mood swings, depression, being depressed, phobias, eating disorders or addictions
  • You are not obese and your BMI is not above 35
  • If you are childless against your wishes, then the reason for this is described in the family report
  • You are close to your mutual parents
  • You are both prepared to have a psychological examination
  • If you want the child to be tested on HIV, then you should make a request for this

  • If a child is already living in your family, then you have taken care of this child for at least two years now

     

Cooperation

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on the Philippines decides whether a child is being stated to be suitable for adoption. This department can be compared to the Dutch Child Welfare Council. This department checks the rights of the child and it inquires whether the child can be placed back to its biological family. If not, then the DSWD will search for a family on the Philippines. If they cannot find a Philippine family to look after the child, then the DSWD sends the file of the child to the Intercountry Adoption Board, the ICAB. Here all files are registers from foreign couples that would like to adopt a child from the Philippines. Here also a possible matching takes place.

Wereldkinderen cooperates with the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (the KBF). This organisation guides adoptive families that stay on the Philippines. They also make sure that all official documents of the adopted child are taken care of and they represent Dutch couples during the matching meetings.

The children stay in a children’s shelter or foster family until the moment of adoption. These children’s shelters and foster homes are spread all over the Philippines. There are in total 55 organisations that take care of children, amongst which the government controlled children’s shelters (of the DSWD) and private shelters. The children’s shelters vary in size and what they have to offer. Most children’s shelters are situated in the surroundings of Manila.

Procedure

After the intake you make sure that the documents and the paperwork for the adoption procedure in the Philippines is taken care of. After that, these documents are submitted at the ICAB in Manila in order to be approved of. This will take about three months. The match that is made by the Board of the ICAB in the Philippines, will happen at a later date. The average waiting-period up to the proposal is three years (calculated from the moment that the documents are send to the Philippines). About three up to six months after the proposal, you can go to the Philippines to go and get your child. In this period the conversation about the departure will take place. The KBF takes care of everything related to the adoption of your child and it will provide guidance for you during your stay in Manilla. You will stay on the Philippines for about three weeks.

The children from the Philippines travel to the Netherlands with a Philippine passport. When you have arrived back in the Netherlands you will be informed on the follow-up obligations. The final granting of the adoption by the Philippine authorities will take place after three times a report has been made about the adaption and development of the child in your family. After that, adoption can take place in accordance with Dutch law.

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