TACLOBAN CITY, April 30 -- The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) has signed an agreement with eight local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas to carry out the foster care program.

The LGUs are Basey in Samar; Dulag, Abuyog, Barugo, and Merida in Leyte; and Libagon, Silago, and Maasin City in Southern Leyte.

During the signing ceremony at the Summit Hotel here on Tuesday, NACC Assistant Secretary Rowena Macalintal said the partnership will make local chief executives champions of legal adoption.

"Our mayors will designate social workers to be trained in foster care, and they will become adoption specialists in their locality," she said.

The LGUs are initially tasked to identify at least 10 parents who are capable and qual...