TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas (DSWD-8) is seeking the relatives of an infant girl who was found abandoned near a beach resort in Palo, Leyte earlier this year.
The child, identified as Maria Niña Panubio, was discovered on January 17, 2026 near the embankment area of Boranday Beach Resort in Barangay Baras.
According to reports, two concerned citizens found the infant lying on the grass near a fishpond and wrapped in cloth before authorities took custody of the child.
Since then, no parent, guardian, or relative has come forward to claim the infant, prompting the DSWD-8 Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) to issue a public appeal for information regarding the child’s identity and family.
The agency said it continues to ensure the welfare and temporary care of the infant while efforts to trace her biological family remain ongoing.
The RSCC urged anyone with information about the child’s relatives to coordinate with Social Welfare Officer III Myla Banasta through mobile number 0908-288-7470 to discuss arrangements that would prioritize the infant’s best interests and long-term welfare.
DSWD also warned that if no family member or relative surfaces within the prescribed period, the agency may proceed with filing a petition declaring the child legally available for adoption under Republic Act No. 11642.
(BLUE REUGINE RUTHIELLE LIM NICOLAS, Student Intern, Leyte Normal University)
