Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. __5249

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
FERDINAND R. GAITE and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

AN ACT
GRANTING FIFTY PERCENT (50%) DISCOUNTS FROM
FUNERAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT FAMILIES AND GRANTING FREE
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR EXTREMELY POOR FAMILIES NATIONWIDE,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the Philippines, dying has become as costly as living itself. ‘This is because most Filipinos
already live lives of utter poverty and still die poor and indebted till the end. Funeral services
generally are expensive, a stark and difficult reality confronting the large majority of impoverished
Filipinos.

‘A survey done on funeral services by the UP School of Urban and Regional Planning (2005)
revealed that the average funeral service package was twenty five thousand pesos (P 25,000).
Memorial lots in public and private cemeteries cost and showed an average of fifty thousand pesos
(PhP 50,000) for lot package including succeeding lease payments. Decent funeral services include
the transport of the corpse, provision of casket, embalming, interment and conduct to the church
and/or to the cemetery.

‘Traditionally, most Filipino families hold the funeral wake at home. ‘The lack of space in many
residential areas, however, does not restrict the setting up of funeral wakes even on the sides of
the street adjacent to the dead man’s residence.

‘There are also instances where a funeral wake lasts for more than a week only because there are
not hough funds mainly gathered through abuloy (donations) to cover for the burial expenses
incurred.

Death to one’s family member becomes doubly tragic for those who earn a measly Php 429.00 a
day (in the National Capital Region). According to the National Statistical Coordination Board,
the number of poor families in relation to the total population remains unchanged since 2006.
"That translates to 28 out 100 Filipino families, or 25 million Filipinos, living on less than P50 a day
in 2012. This wage structure and economic data demonstrate that our people can neither sustain
their daily needs let alone able to shoulder the funeral expenses of their departed loved ones.

Itis the duty of the State to provide for the welfare and security of its citizens. This measure aims


to provide immediate relief to the poor, especially during the loss of their loved ones.

It is this plight of many poor Filipinos that prompted Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares to
originally file this Bill during the 15th Congress and refiled it with fellow Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos
Isagani Zarate in the 16th Congress. This bill was enriched in technical working group in the 17"
Congress after it was refiled by Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate.

‘Thus, the passage of this bill s earnestly requested.

Approved,
ner SRREDSRA T. ZARATE
Bayan Muna Partylst 8
REP. FERDINAND R. GAITE REP. EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT
Bayan Muna Partylist Bayan Muna Partyist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 5249

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
FERDINAND R. GAITE and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

AN ACT
GRANTING FIFTY PERCENT (50%) DISCOUNTS FROM
FUNERAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT FAMILIES AND GRANTING FREE
FUNERAL SERVICES TO EXTREMELY POOR FAMILIES NATIONWIDE,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - ‘This Act shall be known as "Funeral Services Discount Act."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic
social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people
from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a
rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. As part of fulfilling this, the State
shall give enough discounts from funeral services to indigent families.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. — ‘The following terms as used in this Act shall mean the
following:

(@) "Indigent Family" refers to a family whose monthly income is equivalent to the
‘minimum wage set in the region where they reside.

(b) “Extremely Poor Family” refers to a family whose monthly income is less than the
minimum wage set in the region where they reside.

(©) "Funeral Services" refer to preparation of funeral documents, embalming, interment
and burial services or cremation services, including the provision of a casket, offered by
funeral homes offering such services. Furthermore, the standard package of funeral
services shall be:

1) A Junior Lizo Casket and a cart to bring the body inside the chapel;

2) Forat least 5 days but no more than 10 days;

3) A chapel with at least 20 seating capacity with air-conditioning systems, if available,
and lightings and arania, or at the residence or at the place chosen by the relatives


of the deceased, provided that it is within 20-25 kilometer radius of the funeral
home or within Metro Manila

4) A hearse to be utilized within 20-25 kilometer radius of the funeral home or within
Metro Manila. If the funeral discount will be availed in the province, it should be
included in the package.

Section 4. Free funeral services for Extremely Poor Families- Free funeral services shall be
provided for Extremely Poor Families by funeral homes anywhere in the country. ‘The said free
services shall be a maximum of two (2) per month per funeral branch. Provided, said funeral service
does not exceed the cost of the Funeral Home’s minimum funeral service package.

Section 5. Discounts for Indigent Families on Funeral Services. - A fifty percent (50%)
discount on funeral services shall be granted to indigent families by funeral homes anywhere in the
country but would only be applicable to At-Need funeral services only. Provided, said funeral
service does not exceed the cost of the funeral home’s minimum funeral service package. The
grant of a discount under this Act is without prejudice to the right of the beneficiary to avail of
other financial assistance given by the govemment.

Section 6. Requirements for Availing Free or Discount. - Before an extremely poor family
or indigent family can avail of the free or discount on funeral services, the following documents
shall be prepared for submission: death certificate, funeral contract and a certificate as indigent or
extremely poor beneficiary from the barangay or the local social welfare offices of the local
government unit(s) (LGUs) or from the DSWD regional or national offices stating that beneficiary
belong to extremely poor or indigent families as defined under Section 3. Provided, however, that
the certification shall not be a requirement before any member of the family of the deceased could
avail the services of the funeral homes.

Section 7. Reimbursement or Tax Credit. - Funeral homes granting discounts or free services
to indigent beneficiaries or extremely poor beneficiaries may reimburse the cost of the discount
from any regional offices of the DSWD upon the approval of the Regional Director or convert
the same as tax credits provided that proper certification as to the veracity of the claim is certified
true and correct by the DSWD. The tax credit may be used for a period not exceeding five (5)
years from the day the discount was given or from the date appearing in the official receipt.

Section 8. Implementing Agency. - The DSWD shall implement the provision of this Act and
issue the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the objectives of this Act.

Section 9. Appropriations. ‘The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall
be charged against the allocation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Section 10. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of the Act is declared void or
unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions hereof shall not be affected by such
declaration.

Section 11. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of law or regulations inconsistent herewith is
hereby repealed, revoked or modified accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity. -'This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2)


newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,