Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD)

October 5, 2021 Dear Raimee Rose Arugay, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated 03 October 2021 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your request 1) Number of abandoned children, prepandemic from 2015 to latest; 2) Number of adoption or foster care centers in the country, prepandemic from 2015 to latest; 3) Number of children adopted locally, prepandemic 2015 to latest; 4) Number of children adopted internationally, prepandemic from 2015 to latest; and 5) Number of children who outgrew the foster care system in the country, prepandemic from 2015 to latest. Response to your request DSWD has limited information on data on abandoned children staying in the centers and residential care facilities run by DSWD. Thus, we shall partially grant your request and we shall refer your request with respect to this matter to the proper DSWD office. It is the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that may have the data you require. Under Republic Act 10625 (the “Philippine Statistical Act of 2013”), the PSA is the government agency responsible for preparing and conducting periodic censuses on population, housing, agriculture, fisheries, business, industry and other sectors of the economy. Hence, you may wish to direct your request to the PSA by submitting a request to the PSA via this portal. You may also contact the PSA by telephone at 462-6600 locals 839, 833 and 834 or via email at [email protected]. Your right to request a review If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Secretary ROLANDO JOSELITO D. BAUTISTA at DSWD-Central Office, IBP Road Batasan Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011). Thank you. Respectfully, Atty. Paul Anthony A. Tacorda FOI Decision Maker

October 16, 2021 Dear Raimee Rose Arugay, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated 03 October 2021 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your request 1) Number of abandoned children, prepandemic (2018) to latest; 2) Number of adoption or foster care centers in the country, prepandemic (2018) to latest; 3) Number of children adopted locally, prepandemic (2018) to latest; 4) Number of children adopted internationally, prepandemic (2018) to latest; and 5) Number of children who outgrew the foster care system in the country, prepandemic (2018) to latest. Response to your request Your FOI request was approved as we explained in the previous communication. We have sent the requested information to the e-mail address you have provided. Further responses will be sent to your e-mail address directly. Thank you. Respectfully, Atty. Paul Anthony A. Tacorda FOI Decision Maker