Agency Boosts Drive vs Online Baby Selling, Promotes Legal Adoption

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The National Authority for Child Care (NACC), through its Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) in Western Visayas, renewed its commitment to end online baby selling and promote legal adoption and foster care during the Adoption and Alternative Child Care (AACC) Week celebration on Friday, June 13.

With the theme “Hope and Home for Every Child,” the NACC held a media forum to raise public awareness on adoption and alternative child care and to encourage families to provide nurturing homes for children in need.

Janice Brasileño, officer-in-charge of NACC RACCO-6, highlighted the alarming rise in online baby selling, which she described as tantamount to human trafficking, child abuse, exploitation, and illegal adoption.

“Online baby selling also poses a threat to the life of a child,” she said.

From February 2024 to April 2025, authorities tracked 23 Facebook accounts allegedly involved in illegal adoption activities—13 of which remain active.

So far, nine victims have been rescued and 14 perpetrators arrested and charged.

In Western Visayas, three children currently under foster care are also reported victims of human trafficking.

According to Brasileño, two of them were rescued through entrapment operations and are part of an ongoing legal case not yet included in the earlier tally.

That case involved online transactions, with charges filed against a midwife allegedly linked to the operation.

All three children are undergoing the legal process and awaiting the issuance of their Certificate Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA).

NACC continues to work closely with law enforcement partners, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.

“Here in RACCO-6, we are not letting our guard down,” Brasileño said.

She emphasized ongoing monitoring of online activities with help from partner agencies and support groups, including adoptive and foster families who report Facebook pages and groups suspected of facilitating illegal adoption.

She called on the public, especially Ilonggos, to support efforts by reporting and helping shut down groups involved in illegal adoptions.

Despite these intensified measures, Brasileño acknowledged that promoting public awareness and acceptance of legal adoption remains difficult.

She said many Filipinos still misunderstand the adoption process or view it as lengthy and complicated, which often pushes them toward informal and risky alternatives.

However, she clarified that adoption is now an administrative process, not judicial, making it simpler and more affordable.

“There’s no reason for a shortcut because it’s easier now—just coordinate with the nearest social worker or RACCO office,” she said.

To address informal cultural practices like entrusting children to relatives—common in rural areas—NACC continues to engage local government units (LGUs) in its campaign.

As part of the weeklong AACC celebration, NACC hosted an Information Caravan at SM City Iloilo from June 7 to 11 and concluded with Bisigkleta, a bike ride for a cause, on June 15.

Under Republic Act No. 11642, or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, the second week of June is declared as Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week, with NACC as the lead implementing agency nationwide.