Cash for Kids: Why Parents Give Away Their Babies Online

Synopsis

In the Philippines, women are selling their babies as a black market thrives, facilitated by social media platforms like Facebook. In 2020, the country recorded 1.53 million births, one of the highest rates in Asia, while the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated poverty, leaving nearly a quarter of the 110 million population living on just seven dollars a day. In Tondo, a densely populated district in Manila, families struggle with limited access to education and healthcare. Olivia, a homeless mother of three, faces immense pressure as she expects her fourth child. With her husband unable to work due to asthma, Olivia contemplates selling her baby as a desperate solution to their financial woes. The emotional toll of this decision weighs heavily on her, yet she feels it may be the only way to prevent her child from experiencing the same hardships. Legal adoption in the Philippines is complicated, pushing some mothers towards the black market for a quicker resolution.