The Child Support Convention is officially signed! It's about the interests of Filipino spouses, children, etc!

According to Philippine media reports, on February 2, the Philippine Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) and the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center formally signed a cooperation agreement to help children obtain support from foreign parents.

It is reported that DSWD and UP Law Center signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on January 30 at the Law School of UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City.

The two agencies reached agreement for the implementation of the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Support as part of DSWD's ongoing efforts to protect the welfare of every Filipino child.

At the signing ceremony, Eduardo M. Punay, then head of DSWD, expressed the department's gratitude to the UP Law Center in his speech and pointed out the importance of implementing the Child Support Convention.

"With this convention, we will be able to assist families in finding, applying for, processing and claiming child support for left-behind children or foreign or Filipino parents living outside the Philippines."

The Convention aims to ensure the effective international recovery of child support and other forms of family support through a system that provides close coordination and cooperation among parties around the world.

It will also provide better cross-border maintenance procedures through services and any free legal aid, speed up and simplify recognition and enforcement procedures, etc.

In addition, it will facilitate individual applications for child support and, on a limited basis, the maintenance of foreign parents or spouses, and the effective recognition and enforcement of maintenance decisions even if made by foreign courts.

Through this convention, Filipino families can seek the help of DSWD as a central agency in the Philippines to find foreign or Filipino spouses residing abroad to obtain support for their children. Similarly, foreign nationals can also seek help through their respective central agencies to find their Filipino or non-Filipino spouses (if accused of being in the Philippines) in order to provide support for their children.

As a central authority designated by the Philippines, DSWD shall transmit and receive applications from "creditors" or families claiming child support and "debtors" or providers of legal obligations; initiate or facilitate the establishment of application procedures; and provide assistance in finding debtors or creditors, obtaining document requests, collecting and transferring support provided.

As a partner, the UP Law Center will provide assistance with applications that require legal assessment and advice; obtain documentary requirements or other evidence; facilitate the ongoing enforcement of maintenance decisions, including any arrears, and the collection and rapid transfer of maintenance payments.