LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- The National Authority for Child Care (NACC), through the Regional Alternative for Child Care Office (RACCO), is urging communities to support the foster care program especially with the growing need for foster families to care for children in difficult circumstances in the region.

“We have lots of children, abused children iti residential care facilities tayo, child caring agencies nga haan nga mabalin nga mai-reintegrate iti families da, iti communities da, haan tayo pay nga mabalin nga isubli. So, please help us. Let us give a family to those children," RACCO Cordillera Social Worker Officer Jane Quizzagan said.

[We have lots of children, abused children in our residential care facilities, child caring agencies who cannot be reintegrated with their families, or communities, and we cannot return them. So, please help us. Let us give a family to those children.]

Quizzagan said the government will continue to support the foster families, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is open to any concern or need of the foster child.

To become a foster parent, an applicant must be at least 26 years, old and must provide a birth certificate, barangay certificate, marriage contract (if married), character references, and a medical certificate to ensure physical fitness.

Prospective foster parents also need to demonstrate their financial capacity to support the child.

“Basta pasok ti qualifications, mabalin nga ag-foster parent isuna uray no single, uray pay no baak mabalin ladta nga ag-foster,”said Quizzagan, highlighting that single individuals can also apply to become foster parents.

[As long as qualified, anyone can be a foster parent, even a single person.]

Individuals interested in becoming foster parents can submit the requirements to the municipal social welfare and development offices, or directly to the RACCO.

Currently, there are 31 active licensed foster parents in the Cordillera region who are providing care to children in need.

The NACC, a quasi-judicial agency attached to the DSWD, aims to place Filipino children and individuals in need of adoption and alternative care with suitable, secure, and nurturing families through streamlined administrative services ensuring the welfare of individuals and best interests of the child.

The NACC, through the RACCO, is also partnering with local government units (LGUs) for the implementation of the Philippine Foster Care Program. Under the program, LGUs will develop a pool of prospective foster parents in their municipalities in partnership with the NACC through the RACCO.

Quizzagan said they are set to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Conner LGU in Apayao for the implementation of the program in the area. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR with Johan Mae Galati, BSU Intern)