TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
10 P 6 ’24
SENATE
S. No.__1M
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC CREMATORIUMS IN CITIES 
AND MUNICIPALITIES AND EXTENDING FREE CREMATION SERVICES TO 
INDIGENT FAMILIES, AMENDING FOR SUCH PURPOSE SECTION 17 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
A death in the family is not only a time of grief but also a period of deep financial 
stress. In the Philippines, both the traditional funeral and burial services can range from 
ten thousand to hundreds of thousands of pesos. Traditional burials have also posed 
issues due to the lack of space, especially in urban cemeteries. In the alternative, the 
process of cremation is a readily available, cost-effective, and practical option which 
Filipinos can now consider.
Cremation is the process of burning a dead body, typically after a funeral 
ceremony. Previously, Filipinos favored the traditional burial rites due to religious 
concerns, however, with the COVID-19 pandemic experience, many individuais have 
become more open and aware to the process of cremation as a means of burying their 
departed ones.
While there are programs that aid indigent families, such as those funeral benefits 
given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and funeral packages 
offered by some local government units, this bill seeks to establish public crematoriums 
that cremate indigent decedents free of charge; this is to provide alternative options to


the traditional burial for poor families, without compromising the health and safety of the 
public by adopting the appropriate and environmentally-sound measures and practices. 
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passing of this bill is earnestly sought.
FFYT.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
2b JUL10 P6:24
SENATE 
S. No. 444
RrCr’ - ijV
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC CREMATORIUMS IN CITIES 
AND MUNICIPALITIES AND EXTENDING FREE CREMATION SERVICES TO 
INDIGENT FAMILIES, AMENDING FOR SUCH PURPOSE SECTION 17 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Public Crematorium Act"
2 
Sec 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote a just and
3 
dynamic social order that will ensure the freedom of its people from poverty through
4 
policies that provide adequate social services and improved quality of life. As part of
5 
fulfilling this, the State shall establish public crematoriums that shall provide free
6 
cremations for indigent decedents.
7 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. —The following terms as used in this Act shall mean
8 
the following:
9 
a. A crematorium refers to a designated place duly authorized by law to cremate
10 
dead persons.
11 
b. Indigent refers to a person who has no visible means of support or whose income
12 
falls below the minimum wage in the region as determined by the Regional
13 
Tripartite Wage Board; or whose income falls within the minimum wage but has
14 
two other persons dependent upon him or her for support.


1 
Sec. 4. Establishment of Public Crematoriums. — Section 17 of Republic No. 7160,
2 
as amended, otherwise known as the Local Government Code is hereby amended to read
3 
as follows:
4 
"Section 17. Basic Services and Facilities —
5 
XXX 
XXX 
XXX
6 
(b) Such basic services and facilities include, but are not limited to, the
7 
following:
8 
XXX 
XXX 
XXX
9 
(2) For a Municipality:
10 
XXX XXX XXX
11 
(x) Public cemetery AND PUBLIC CREMATORIUM"
12 
Furthermore, the design, construction, technical requirements, sanitary
13 
certification, and operation of the public crematories, as well as handling of dead bodies
14 
shall be in compliance with the Presidential Decree 856, otherwise known as the "Code
15 
on Sanitation of the Philippines" and Republic Act No. 8749, or the "Philippine Clean Air
16 
Act of 1999," and their respective implementing rules and regulation.
17 
Sec 5. Anti-Pollution Measures. — The Department of Environment and Natural
18 
Resources (DENR) shall issue pertinent guidelines and practices promoting anti-pollution
19 
measures such as, but not limited to, installation of filter systems and similar pollution
20 
control devices, designation of pollution officers, neutralization of pollutants and toxic
21 
wastes, reduction of particulate matter, more efficient use of fuel and energy, adequate
22 
controls on emission levels, among others.
23 
Sec 6. Coverage. — Families whose combined gross income does not exceed Php
24 
15,000 per month, do not own real property, or a vehicle. The real property mentioned
25 
refers to property acquired through sale.
26 
Sec 7. Provision of Free Cremation Services for Indigents. — Notwithstanding any
27 
provision of law, indigent decedents or a decedent belonging to an indigent family, as
28 
determined by the city or municipal health officer, on the basis of existing laws and
29 
regulations, shall be cremated in public crematoriums free of charge.


1 
The local city or municipal health officer shall duly record all cremations performed
2 
in the public crematorium.
3 
Sec 8. Subsidy from the National Government —The costs for the establishment
4 
of public crematoriums in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be provided in
5 
the Annual General Appropriations Act.
6 
Sec 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Interior and
7 
Local Government, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and
8 
the Department of Finance shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the release
9 
of the subsidy from the National Government in accordance with Section 3 of this Act.
10 
The Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Environment
11 
and Natural Resources shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations with respect
12 
to the minimum technical requirements for public crematoriums taking into consideration
13 
the population size of cities or municipalities, the necessary environmental precautions
14 
and safety measures for their establishment as well as other matters provided for in this
15 
Act.
16 
Sec 10. Repealing Clause. — All provisions of laws and rules inconsistent with the
17 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
18 
Sec 11. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any section or provision of this
19 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not affected
20 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
21 
Sec 12. Effectivity Clause. —This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
22 
its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,