National Authority for Child Care (NACC) Undersecretary Janela Marie Vitug Estrada Ejercito Estrada visited House of Refuge Foundation, Inc. in Quezon City as part of her pre-placement visit to accredited Child Placement Agencies as partners in providing alternative care where she vowed to beef up the transition phase of the NACC to provide effective government mechanisms and services for alternative child care and ensure productive and meaningful partnership with the stake holders.
NACC was created by Republic Act 11642 early this year and has jurisdiction on matters related to alternative child care, including adoption and foster care. The law, also known as the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, simplifies domestic adoption and makes it less expensive.
The House of Refuge Foundation, Inc., an accredited partner of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is currently taking care of 19 children who are in need of stable and happy home, as well nurturing them in Christian faith.
“These kids urgently need stable and happy homes where they can be provided with opportunities to strive and to be who they want to be,” USec. Estrada said.
She explained that the new laws on the administrative adoption process, rectification of simulated birth certificates and the foundling law streamlines government functions “for a more efficient and effective alternative child care.”
“Clearly, these children are placed in a situation nobody would want to be in. But their innocence, their hopefulness and their faith that good things that will change their lives are sure to come, deeply inspires me as a public servant and as their “ate” from the Government,” Estrada stressed.
“Their high hopes, dreams and aspirations serve as an inspiration to us, and demands profound commitment from the NACC,” Estrada added.
Former San Juan Vice Mayor Janella Ejercito Estrada was appointed by Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo on August 7, 2022 as Undersecretary and Executive Director of the National Authority for Child Care (NACC).#