WATCH | ABANDONED BABIES, FORGED BIRTH RECORDS: SURROGACY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Wed 20 November 2024:

In the Philippines, women are renting out their wombs. Driven by poverty, young women are offering themselves up as surrogates for those unable to bear children. But the practice is considered taboo in this predominantly Catholic nation. Clinics offering surrogacy services are also breaking the law, with false documents being created to circumvent issues surrounding parentage.

Surrogacy in the Philippines operates in a controversial underground market, where women often face exploitation. Many surrogates, like Gloria, encounter legal and emotional challenges, while agencies profit from their circumstances. The lack of regulation raises concerns about safety and fairness, despite increasing demand for surrogacy services from both locals and foreigners.

The Catholic Church in the Philippines advocates for a complete ban on surrogacy, emphasizing it as morally unacceptable. This stance is rooted in the belief that life should not be commodified or treated as an object.