EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez __

2762

EXPLANATORY NOTE

House Bill No.

Republic Act 8043, otherwise known as “An Act Establishing the Rules to Govern
Inter-Country Adoption of Filipino Children, and for Other Purposes”, was enacted on 07
June 1995. The Law was enacted under the guiding principles of the Hague Convention on
Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption. The primary
purpose of the Hague Convention is to require a process which ensures that inter-country
adoption of a child is determined to be in the child's best interests, and that all measures are
taken to prevent abduction, sale or traffic of children.

This bill seeks to institute reforms in the process of inter-country adoption, to make it
more responsive to the changes in the concept of international adoption.

One of the features of this legislative measure is the removal of the age requirement
for the adopter, i.0. to be at least twenty seven (27) years old at the time of the adoption. It
likewise seeks to re-name the Inter-Country Adoption Board as Inter-Country Adoption
Authority (ICAA), and introduces structural changes in the ICA.

Each Filipino child deserves a family that will protect his/her best interests. It is
therefore the policy of the State to find an adoptive family for any child found legally free for
adoption and to establish an efficient system for the implementation thereof.

is earmestly requested.

F
Nh
RUFUS B. ROI jUEZ

Hence, the immediate passage of this

LY


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
aL Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez 7
House Bill No. 2762
AN ACT

AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8043, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE RULES TO GOVERN INTER-COUNTRY
ADOPTION OF FILIPINO CHILDREN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Article |, Section 2 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as follows:
“Section 2. Declaration of Policy.- I is hereby declared the policy of the State
to provide every neglected and abandoned child with opportunities for growth and
development. Towards this end, efforts shall be exerted to IMMEDIATELY place the
child with an adoptive family in the Philippines. However, recognizing that inter-
country adoption ( may be considered as allowing aliens, not presently allowed by
law to adopt Filipino children if such children cannot be adopted by qualified Filipino
citizens or aliens, ) OFFERS THE ADVANTAGE OF A PERMANENT FAMILY TO A
CHILD FOR WHOM A SUITABLE FAMILY CANNOT BE FOUND IN THE
PHILIPPINES, the State shall take measures to ensure that inter-country adoptions
are allowed when the same shall prove beneficial to the child's best interests, and
shall serve and protect his/her fundamental rights.”

SECTION 2. Article |, Section 3 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as follows:
“Section 3. Definition of Terms.- As used in this Act, the term:

a) __Inter-country adoption refers to the socio-legal process of adopting a
Filipino child by a foreigner or a Filipino citizen permanently residing abroad where
the petition is filed, the supervised trial custody is undertaken, and the decree of
adoption is issued (outside the Philippines).

b) Child means a person below EIGHTEEN (18) (fifteen (15) years of
age unless sooner emancipated by law.)

C) AUTHORITY REFERS TO THE INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION
AUTHORITY

D(c) Department refers to the Department of Social Welfare and
Development of the Republic of the Philippines.

E(d) Secretary refers to the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development.

F(e) Authorized and accredited agency refers to the State welfare agency
or a licensed adoption agency in the country of the adopting parents which provide
comprehensive social services and which is duly recognized by the Department.


G(f) _Legally-free child means a child who has been voluntarily or
involuntarily committed to the Department OR TO A DULY LICENSED AND
ACCREDITED CHILD-PLACING OR CHILD-CARING AGENCY, FREE OF THE
PARENTAL AUTHORITY OF HIS/HER BIOLOGICAL PARENT(S) OR GUARDIAN
OR ADOPTER(S) IN CASE OF RESCISSION OF ADOPTION, in accordance with
the Child and Youth Welfare Code.

Hig) Matching refers to the judicious pairing of the adoptive child and the
applicant to promote a mutually satisfying parent-child relationship.

\(h) Board refers to the BOARD OF THE inter-country Adoption (Board)
AUTHORITY.

J) LIAISON SERVICES REFER TO THE COLLABORATION OF
ACTIVITIES / SERVICES OF FACILITATING AND PLACING CHILD FOR
ADOPTION BY A CHILD CARING / PLACING AGENCY WITH A FOREIGN
ADOPTION AGENCY, AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD.”

SECTION 3. Article I, Section 4 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as follows:

“Section 4. The Inter-Country Adoption AUTHORITY (Board). There is

hereby created the Inter-Country Adoption AUTHORITY (Board), hereinafter referred

to as the AUTHORITY (Board), to act as the central authority in matters relating to

inter-country adoption. It shall act as the QUASI-JUDICIAL AND policy-making body

for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act, in consultation and

coordination with the Department, the different GOVERNMENT AND NON-

GOVERNMENT child-care and placement agencies, FOREIGN adoptive agencies,

as well as non-governmental organizations engaged in child-care and placement
activities. As such, it shall:

‘a) Protect the Filipino child from abuse, exploitation, trafficking and/or
sale or any other practice in connection with adoption which is harmful, detrimental,
or prejudicial to the child,

b) Collect, maintain, and preserve confidential information about the child
and the adoptive parents;

c) Monitor, follow-up, and facilitate completion of adoption of the child
through authorized and accredited agency;

d) Prevent improper financial or other gain in connection with an
adoption and deter improper practices contrary to this Act:

e) Promote the development of adoption services including post-legal
adoption;

f) (License and) Accredit child-caring/placement agencies TO PROVIDE
LIAISON SERVICES FOR INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION and collaborate AND/OR
COORDINATE with FOREIGN ADOPTION AGENCIES (them) in the placement of
Filipino children;

3) Accredit and authorize foreign adoption agency in the placement of
Filipino children in their own country; and
h) Cancel the license to operate and blacklist the child-caring and

placement agency or adoptive agency involved from the accreditation list of the
Board upon a finding of violation of any provision under this Act.”

SECTION 4. Article II, Section 5 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as follows:
"Section 5. Composition of the Board OF THE AUTHORITY. — - (The Board
shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department as ex-officio Chairman, and
six (6) other members to be appointed by the President for a nonrenewable term of
six (6) years: ) The AUTHORITY SHALL HAVE A Board (shall) TO be composed of
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE Secretary of the Department (as ex-officio


Chairman,) WHO SHALL HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF AN
UNDERSECRETARY, one (1) psychiatrist or psychologist, (two) (2)) lawyerS who
shall have at least the qualifications of a regional trial court judge, one (1) registered
social worker and ONE (1) representative from non-governmental organizations
‘engaged in child-caring and placement activities, BUT NOT ACTIVELY ENGAGED
IN. THE MANAGEMENT OF SAID ORGANIZATION, AND ONE (1)
REPRESENTATIVE FROM A NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
IN CHILDREN’S WELFARE. THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL( to ) be
appointed by the President for a (non)renewable term of (six (6)) FOUR (4) years.
HOWEVER, NO BOARD MEMBER SHALL SERVE FOR MORE THAN TWO
CONSECUTIVE TERMS: (Provided, That) The members of the Board shall receive a
per diem allowance of (One thousand five hundred pesos (P1,500.00)) FIVE
THOUSAND PESOS (P 5,000.00) for each meeting attended by them: Provided,
further, (That no compensation shall be paid for more than four (4) meetings a
month) THAT THE BOARD MAY DETERMINE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION
FOR ITS MEMBERS FOR OTHER TASKS GIVEN TO THEM.

THE MEMBERS SHALL CHOOSE FROM AMONG THEM THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE BOARD.

SECTION 5. Article Il, Section 6, paragraph b of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read

as follows:
“Section 6. Powers and Functions of the Board.- The Board shall have the

following powers and functions:

b) to set the guidelines for the convening of THE (an) Inter-Country
Adoption Placement Committee which shall be under the direct supervision of the
Board;

ce) | XXX"

M) TO APPOINT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SECRETARIAT
N) TO EXERCISE CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OVER THE
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARIAT

SECTION 6. Article Ill, Section 7 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as follows.
“Section 7. Inter-Country Adoption as the Last Resort.- The AUTHORITY
(Board) shall ensure that all possibilities for adoption of the child under the Family
Code have been exhausted and that inter-country adoption is in the best interest of
the child. Towards this end, the AUTHORITY (Board) shall set up the guidelines to
‘ensure that steps will be taken to place the child in the Philippines before the child is
placed for inter-country adoption, UNLESS THE ADOPTION TAKES PLACE
WITHIN THE FAMILY UP TO THE SIXTH (6") CIVIL DEGREE OF
CONSANGUINITY, OR UNLESS THE ADOPTION IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CASE,
AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD.(: Provided, however, That the maximum
number that may be allowed for foreign adoption shall not exceed six hundred (600)
a year for the first five (5) years.)”

SECTION 7. Article Ill, Section 9, paragraph a of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall
read as follows.

“Section 8. Who May be Adopted.- Only a legally free child may be the
subject of inter-country adoption. IN CASE OF VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT, THE
CHILD SHALL BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY FOR ADOPTION. PROVIDED,
HOWEVER THE SURRENDERING PARENT RECEIVED APPROPRIATE
COUNSELING AND HAS RELINQUISHED THE CHILD AND SIGNED THE DEED
OF VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT. In order that such child may be considered for
placement, the following documents must be submitted to the Board:

XXXX


SECTION 8. Article Ill, Section 9, paragraph a of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall
read as follows:

“Section 9. Who May Adopt.- Any alien or a Filipino citizen permanently
residing abroad may file an application for inter-country adoption of a Filipino child if
he/she;

‘a) _ IS OF LEGAL AGE, (is at least twenty-seven (27) years of age and)
at least sixteen (16) years older than the child to be adopted, at the time of
application unless the adaptor is the parent by nature of the child to be adopted or
the spouse of such parent,”

SECTION 9. Article Ill, Section 10 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as follows:

“Section 10, Where to File Application.- An application to adopt a Filipino child
shall be filed WITH THE AUTHORITY (either with the Philippine Regional Trial Court
having jurisdiction over the child, or with the Board.) through an intermediate agency,
Whether governmental or an authorized and accredited agency, in the country of the
prospective adoptive parents, which application shall be in accordance with the
requirements as set forth in the implementing rules and regulations to be
promulgated by the AUTHORITY (Board).

The application shall be supported by the following documents written and
officially translated in English:

a) Birth certificate of applicant(s);

b) Marriage contract, if married, and divorce decree, if applicable;

¢) Written consent of their biological or adopted children above ten (10)
years of age WHO ARE LIVING WITH THEIR PARENTS, OR OVER WHOM
PARENTS EXERCISE PARENTAL AUTHORITY;(, in the form of sworn statement);

d) Physical, medical and psychological evaluation by a duly licensed
physician and psychologist OR PSYCHIATRIST;

‘e) __ Income tax returns or any document showing the financial capability of
the applicant(s);

f) Police clearance of applicant(s);

g) Character reference from the local church/minister, the applicant's

employer and a member of the immediate community who have known the
applicant(s) for at least five (5) years, ind

h) Recent postcard-size pictures of the applicant(s) and his immediate
family;

1) HOME STUDY REPORT; AND.

J) _ CERTIFICATE OF GUARDIANSHIP

(The Rules of Court shalll apply in case of adoption by judicial proceedings.”)

SECTION 10. Article Ill, Section 11 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as
follows:

Section 11. Family Selection/Matching.- No child shall be matched to a
foreign adoptive family unless it is satisfactorily shown that NO LOCAL ADOPTIVE
FAMILY IS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE MATCHING CONFERENCE.
WHEN THE PLACEMENT AUTHORITY IS TRANSMITTED TO THE CONCERNED
COURT OF THE ACCREDITED FOREIGN ADOPTION AGENCY (the child cannot
be adopted locally. The clearance, as issued by the Board, with the copy of the
minutes of the meetings, shall form part of the records of the child to be adopted.
When the Board is ready to transmit the Placement Authority to the authorized and
accredited inter-country adoption agency) and all the travel documents of the child
are ready, the adoptive parents, or any one of them, shall personally fetch the child in
the Philippines.

SECTION 11. Article III, Section 13 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as
follows:


“Section 13. Fees, Charges and Assessments.- Fees, charges, and
assessments collected by the AUTHORITY (Board) in the exercise of its functions
shall be used solely to process applications for inter-country adoption, and to support
the CHILD CARING AGENCIES AND THE activities of the AUTHORITY (Board).”

SECTION 12. Article Ill, Section 14 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as
follows:

“Section 14. Supervision of Trial Custody. The governmental agency or the
authorized and accredited agency in the country of the adoptive parents which filed
the application for inter-country adoption shall be responsible for the trial custody and
the care of the child. It shall also provide family counseling and other related
services. The trial custody shall be for a period of six (6) months from the time of
placement. Only after the lapse of the period of (trial custody) shall a decree of
adoption be issued in the said country, a copy of which shall be sent to the Board to
form part of the records of the child

During the trial custody, the adopting parent(s) shall submit to the
governmental agency or the authorized and accredited agency, which shall in turn
transmit a copy to the AUTHORITY (Board), a progress report of the child's
adjustment. The progress report shall be taken into consideration in deciding whether
or not to issue the decree of adoption.

THE AUTHORITY SHALL, IN CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION
WITH (T)the Department of Foreign Affairs, ISSUE THE GUIDELINES (shall set-up @
system) by which Filipino children sent abroad for trial custody are monitored and
checked as reported by the authorized and accredited inter-country adoption agency.
THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SHALL, HOWEVER, SET UP A
SYSTEM FOR (as well as) the repatriation to the Philippines of a Filipino child whose
adoption has not been approved.”

SECTION 13. Article IV, Section 17 of RA 8043 is hereby amended and shall read as

follows:
"Section 17. Public Officers as Offenders. Any government AND NON-

GOVERNMENT official, employee or functionary, who shall be found guilty of
violating any of the provisions of this Act, or who shall conspire with private
individuals shall, in addition to the above-prescribed penalties, be penalized in
accordance with existing civil service laws, rules and regulations: Provided, That
upon the filing of a case, either administrative or criminal, said government official
employee or functionary concerned ‘shall automatically suffer suspension until the
resolution of the case.”

SECTION 14, All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or
parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected hereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 16. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two
(2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,