TACLOBAN CITY– Calling for public vigilance, the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) in Eastern Visayas is intensifying its campaign against online child trafficking, urging citizens to report explicit online and social media content exploiting children.
RACCO recently intercepted two child trafficking incidents, one in Northern Samar and another in Dagami, Leyte.
Authorities rescued an infant and a toddler from illegal baby selling in San Roque, Northern Samar, and two siblings from a trafficking incident in Barangay Guinarona, Dagami, Leyte. The victims are now in shelters awaiting adoption.
Josamae Sedillo, RACCO officer-in-charge, said the agency is providing a robust and accessible legal adoption framework to reduce the appeal of illicit online child adoption channels and combat trafficking facilitated through social media.
RACCO continues to collaborate with law enforcement, educational institutions and local communities to strengthen prevention and response capabilities, Sedillo said.
She emphasized the crucial role of public support in reporting trafficking activities and preventing improper adoption procedures.
“The public is our best source for information, so we are tapping their help,” Sedillo said.
RACCO also promotes its core functions, including streamlined adoption and alternative childcare processes, as mandated by Republic Act 11642.
The agency handles the issuance of Certification Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA), domestic administrative adoption, inter-country adoption, foster care, rectification of simulated birth pursuant to Republic Act 11222, and other forms of alternative care.
RACCO is now responsible for adoption cases withdrawn from court, new administrative adoption petitions, new adoptive parent applications, inter-country adoption clearance, foster care and simulated birth rectification procedures, disrupted pre-adoptive placement procedures, adoption order registration, adoption rescission petitions, and travel clearances for cases under the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) jurisdiction.
(ACR/PIA Leyte)
