LGBTQIA++ individuals qualified to adopt a child, says NACC
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA) — The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) announced in a recent online press conference that members of the LGBTQIA++ community are welcome to participate in legal adoption, giving deeper meaning to inclusivity and equal opportunity in child care and family building.
Held on June 9 via Google Meet, Attorney Gaby Concepcion, NACC undersecretary, discussed the evolving concept of family and encouraged the public to embrace a broader understanding of what constitutes a family.
“Most of us in the general population have the traditional notion of what a family is supposed to be. There is a mother, a father, a sister, and a brother—a typical family setup,” said Atty. Concepcion.
She emphasized that families come in different forms and should not be confined to traditional structures alone.
“This year’s Adoption and Alternative Child Care (AACC) Week invites us to look at families from a bigger, broader, and different perspective. There is no single face, form, or experience of a family. There are families composed of parents and children, solo-parent households, and families formed through adoption and alternative child care,” she added.
Meanwhile, Imelda Ronda, NACC director for operations and services, underscored the importance of ensuring that every child grows up in a loving, stable, and nurturing environment.
“We proudly carry this year’s theme, ‘Love Makes a Family.’ This theme reminds us that a family is not defined solely by biology or traditional structures. Rather, a family is built through love, care, commitment, and the willingness to provide a safe and nurturing home where children can grow, thrive, and realize their full potential,” said Director Ronda.
She reiterated the agency’s continuing advocacy for legal adoption and alternative child care programs as vital pathways in providing children with permanent families and better opportunities for growth and development.
“We continue to advocate for legal adoption and alternative child care as pathways that provide children with the opportunity to belong to a family. Through legal adoption, children are given permanent protection, stability, and the sense of belonging that every child deserves,” she added.
Dir. Ronda also emphasized that adoption and foster care opportunities are open to all qualified applicants, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, as long as they meet the qualifications set by law and can provide a safe, loving, and supportive environment for a child.
The members of the LGBTQIA++ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community may apply to adopt and undergo the same evaluation process as other applicants. The agency stressed that the primary consideration in adoption proceedings is always the best interest of the child, focusing on the applicant’s capacity to provide care, protection, emotional support, and a stable family environment.
“The LGBTQIA++ are eligible for the solo parent adoption program. Only one of the couples LGBTQIA++ can formally adopt,” said Concepcion.
Meanwhile, the AACC Week aims to raise public awareness about legal adoption, foster care, kinship care, and other alternative child care programs while encouraging more Filipino families to open their homes and hearts to children in need of love, care, and protection.
Through this year’s observance, the NACC continues to promote inclusivity, compassion, and responsible parenthood, reinforcing the message that love, care, commitment, and a child’s well-being—not family structure—are what truly define a family.
As the nation celebrates Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week 2026, the NACC encourages Filipinos to embrace a more inclusive understanding of family and support programs that provide children with permanent, loving homes. By promoting legal adoption and alternative child care, the agency hopes to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to grow up in a nurturing environment where they are valued, protected, and loved. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur)
