Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to regulate the establishment and operations of crematories in order to 
promote public health and the protection of the environment. This measure proposes 
mechanisms for the application, approval, and inspection of crematories.  
Cremation is becoming increasingly acceptable to more Filipinos considering the rising 
population, lack of space in cemeteries, and the rising costs of traditional burial 
services. There are already public crematoriums being established. It is also a safer 
alternative for those who passed away due to highly communicable diseases such as 
those affected by COVID-19. 
This proposal also institutes anti-pollution measures to control air contaminants that 
cremation processes produce. Studies show that the emissions from cremation 
include nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and other 
heavy metals. Hence, there is a need to comply with standards so as not to pose any 
hazard to the environment.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is most earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
September 13, 2022
8:00 am
4713


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT 
REGULATING CREMATORIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:  
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ''Crematories Regulation Act'. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote 
and protect the right to health of the people. Toward this end, no crematory shall be 
erected near a residential community where it would pose a hazard to health and air 
quality. The erection and maintenance of crematories shall be regulated in order to 
promote the public health and the environment.  
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
(a)
"Crematory" or "crematorium"- refers to a mortuary where corpses are
cremated or a facility for the disposal by incineration of the bodies of the dead;
and
(b)
"Secretary"- refers to the Secretary of Health.
Sec. 4. Establishment and Maintenance of Crematories. - Any natural person, 
partnership, corporation or association may erect, maintain, and conduct a crematory 
and provide the necessary appliances and facilities for the disposal by Incineration of 
the bodies of the dead, in accordance with the provisions of this Act. The location of 
4713


such crematory shall be within the confines of an established cemetery containing not 
less than eight (8) hectares, which cemetery shall have been in existence and  
operation for at least five (5) years immediately preceding the time of the erection of  
such crematory, or shall be within the confines of a plot of land approved for the  
location of a crematory by the Sangguniang Bayan or the Sangguniang Panlungsod 
of the municipality or city; Provided, That no crematory shall be located within the one  
hundred fifty (150) meters of any residential structure or land used for residential  
purposes not owned by the owner of the crematory. 
The design, construction, technical requirements, sanitary certification, and 
operation of the crematories, as well as handling of dead bodies shall be in compliance 
with the Presidential Decree 856, otherwise known as the "Code on Sanitation of the 
Philippines" and Republic Act No. 8749, or the "Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999," and 
their respective implementing rules and regulations. 
Application for such approval shall be made in writing to the local authority, and 
a hearing shall be held within the town or city in which such location is situated within 
sixty-five (65) days from the date of receipt of such application. Notice of such hearing 
shall be given to such applicant by mail, postage paid, to the address given on the 
application, and to Secretary of Health, and by publication twice in a newspaper having 
a substantial circulation in the town or city at intervals of not less than two (2) days, 
the first being not more than fifteen (15) nor less than ten (10) days, and the second 
being not less than two (2) days before such hearing. The local authority shall approve 
or deny such application within sixty-five (65) days after such hearing. The grounds 
for its action shall be stated in the records. Each applicant shall pay a reasonable fee, 
together with the costs of the publication of such notice, as the local authority may 
determine by ordinance. 
No such crematory shall be erected until the plans therefor have been filed with 
and approved by the Secretary of Health; and no such crematory shall be used until it 
has been inspected and received a certificate of inspection by the Department of 
Health.  
Each holder of an inspection certificate shall, annually, on or before July first, 
submit in writing to the Department of Health an application for renewal of such 
certificate. If the department issues to such applicant such an inspection certificate, 
the same shall be valid until July first next following year, unless revoked or 
suspended.  


Upon receipt of an application for a renewal of such certificate, the Department 
of Health shall make an inspection of each crematory.  
A crematory shall be open at all times for inspection by the Department of Health. 
The department may make inspections whenever it deems advisable. 
If, upon inspection, by the Department of Health, it is found that such crematory 
is in such condition as to be detrimental to public health, the department shall give to 
the applicant or operator of the crematory notice and opportunity for hearing as 
provided in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health. The Secretary may, 
after such hearing, revoke, suspend or refuse to issue or renew any such certificate 
upon cause found at hearing. 
Any of the inspections provided for in this section may be made by a person 
designated by the Secretary of Health.  
 
Sec. 5. Anti-Pollution Measures. - The Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR) shall issue pertinent guidelines and practices promoting anti-
pollution measures such as, but not limited to, installation of filter systems and similar 
pollution control devices, designation of pollution officers, neutralization of pollutants 
and toxic wastes, reduction of particulate matter, more efficient use of fuel and energy, 
adequate controls on emission levels, among others. Such guidelines shall form part 
of the minimum requirements prior to the approval of application.  
 
Sec. 6. Records and Certificates. - The managers of each crematory shall keep 
books of record, which shall be open at reasonable times for inspection, in which shall 
be entered the name, age, sex, and residence of each person whose body is 
cremated, together with the authority for such cremation and the disposition of the 
ashes. The owner or superintendent shall complete the cremation permit required by 
Section 7, retain a copy for record and immediately forward the original permit to the 
local registrar of the town or city in which the death occurred. The local registrar shall 
keep the cremation permit in file and record it with other vital statistics.  
When the body of the deceased is removed from a town or city where the death  
occurred for the purpose of cremation, the person having the legal custody and control 
of such body shall cause a certificate to be procured from the person in charge of the 
crematory in which such body is incinerated, stating the facts called for in this section, 


and cause such certificate to be filed for record with the registrar of the town or city in 
which the death occurred. 
Each crematory shall retain on its premises, for not less than five (5) years after 
final disposition of cremated remains, books of record, copies of cremation permits, 
cremation authorization documentation, and documentation of receipt of cremated 
remains.  
 
Sec. 7. Cremation Permit. –  
(a)  The body of any deceased person may be disposed of by Incineration or 
cremation in the town or city where the death occurred or may be removed from 
such town or city for such purpose.  
 
(b)  The death certificate required by law shall be filed with the local registrar for the 
town or city in which such person died, if known, or, if not known, for the town in 
which the body was found. The Chief Medical Examiner, Deputy Chief Medical 
Examiner, associate medical examiner, or an authorized assistant medical 
examiner shall complete the cremation certificate, stating that such medical 
examiner has made inquiry into the cause and manner of death and is of the 
opinion that no further examination is necessary. The cremation certificate shall 
be submitted to the local registrar of the town or city in which such person died, 
if known, or, if not known, of the town or city in which the body was found, or with 
the local registrar of the town or city in which the nearest kin or the person having 
authority over the body is located. Upon receipt of the cremation certificate, the 
registrar shall authorize the cremation certificate, keep it on permanent record, 
and issue a cremation permit, except that if the cremation certificate Is submitted 
to the registrar of the town or city where nearest kin or the person having lawful 
authority over the body is located, such certificate shall be forwarded to the 
registrar of the town or city where the person died to be kept on permanent 
record. When the cremation certificate is submitted to a town or city other than 
that where the person died, the local registrar such other town or city shall 
ascertain from the original removal, transit, and burial permit that the certificates 
required by the laws, rules, and regulations have been received and recorded, 
that the body has been prepared in accordance with laws, rules, and regulations, 
and that the entry regarding the place of disposal is correct.  


 
(c)  No body shall be cremated until at least forty-eight (48) hours after death, unless 
such death was the result of communicable disease, and no body shall be 
received by any crematory unless accompanied by the permit provided for in this 
section. In the case of death as a result of communicable diseases, crematories 
shall provide logistics and transport of the human remains, upon designation and 
with the assistance of the local government unit.   
 
Sec. 8. Penalty. - Any person who makes any false statement in procuring any permit 
required by this Act, or who violates any provision of this Act, shall be fined not more 
than Five thousand pesos (P5,000) or imprisoned not more than two (2) years, or both.  
 
Sec. 9. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health shall issue the necessary 
rules and regulations to carry out the objectives of this Act.  
 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.  
 
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or Issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly.  
 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,