ILOILO City — With less than three years remaining before the March 29, 2029 deadline, the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) in Western Visayas is urging families with simulated birth records to avail themselves of the government’s adoption amnesty, warning that those who fail to legalize their children’s records could eventually face criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and substantial fines.
The amnesty, granted under Republic Act (RA) 11222 or the Simulated Birth Rectification Act, allows parents who illegally registered children as their biological offspring to legally adopt them and correct their birth records without facing criminal or administrative liability — provided they apply before the law expires in 2029.
Jeannie Lyn Casiple, Social Welfare Officer I and focal person for RA 11222 at the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) – RACCO, said the remaining years of the program present a crucial opportunity for affected families to correct past mistakes while protecting their children’s future.
“We are actively urging affected individuals to come forward and rectify their records. This amnesty provides a pivotal opportunity for couples who, driven by various pressures, have bypassed the legal adoption process. It enables them to amend their child’s birth records without the threat of criminal or administrative repercussions,” Casiple said.
“Tampering the birth certificate of a child without undergoing the legal process of adoption is illegal, or may gin-simulate kag, gin-shortcut mo ang proseso sang pag-adopt ka bata,” she said.
Casiple said many couples previously resorted to simulated birth registration because legal adoption was expensive and time-consuming.
She warned that those who fail to avail themselves of the amnesty may face criminal, civil and administrative liabilities, including imprisonment of six to 12 years and fines of at least P200,000.
Casiple clarified that RACCO itself does not file cases against families but stressed that relatives aware of simulated birth records may initiate complaints.
Correcting birth records enables children to obtain passports, enroll in school, take board examinations, seek employment and travel without future legal complications, she explained.
RACCO regional head Janice Brasileño urged affected families to act before the deadline.
“The opportunity to correct simulated birth records will only be available until March 29, 2029. To anyone who simulated the birth record of their child, please reach out to your local social welfare development office or RACCO to take advantage of this amnesty initiative,” Brasileño said.
Since the law took effect in 2019, RACCO has received only 52 petitions in Western Visayas, of which 44 have already been granted orders of finality, highlighting the need for wider public awareness before the amnesty expires./PN
