Members of the LGBTQ community in the Philippines can adopt children as individuals, but legal adoption does not extend to same-sex couples due to the country’s laws prohibiting same-sex marriage. The Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) in Central Visayas clarified this during a recent episode of a teleradio program. Cyrene Anna Torres, social welfare officer II at RACCO 7, explained that while LGBTQ individuals are welcome to adopt, they must do so as single petitioners under Republic Act 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act of 2022. “Under our law, same-sex marriage is not yet accepted in the Philippines, but LGBTQ individuals can adopt children as single applicants,” Torres explained.