ILOILO City – Over 200 cyclists pedalled through the streets of Iloilo City on June 15 in a show of support for legal adoption and child welfare, as part of the nationwide BISIG-Kleta: Bike Ride for a Cause organized by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) – Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO)-VI.
The event, held in observance of the 3rd Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week (AACCW), formed part of a synchronized national campaign that gathered more than 5,000 participants across the country. It aimed not only to encourage physical wellness but also to amplify the call for legal adoption and the protection of children in need.
“This is about giving every child a fair chance at life,” said NACC undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada. “Having a safe and permanent family is a fresh start for every child who has been abandoned, neglected, dependent, surrendered, foundling, orphaned, abused, or exploited.”
Estrada also highlighted the campaign’s goal of raising public awareness about the benefits of the streamlined administrative adoption process under the NACC.
“We aim to promote simpler, faster, and less costly procedures to encourage more families to pursue legal adoption and foster care,” she said.
Aside from the fun ride, the BISIG-Kleta campaign also includes forums, help desks, and other community-based activities to unite families, advocacy groups, and child welfare professionals. This year’s celebration places special emphasis on combating illegal adoptions, particularly direct and independent placements and the alarming trend of “online baby selling.”
Established under Republic Act No. 11642, the NACC is a one-stop quasi-judicial agency under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), mandated to oversee all aspects of alternative child care in the country — from declaring a child legally available for adoption to facilitating domestic, inter-country, and foster care placements.
With the theme “Hope and Home for Every Child,” the AACCW 2025 campaign calls on the public to be part of a collective effort to provide loving families for children still waiting for their forever homes./PN
