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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 10857

Introduced by Representative HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” LUISTRO.

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the Philippine Statistics Agency, there is, in average, 1,862 Filipinos dying per day
= This is only the registered figure.' With more than 20 million Filipinos below the poverty line
along with continuous increase of primary expenses like food, utilities, and education, an
unfortunate yet inevitable expense of death is not one most Filipinos can arrange.

In Filipino culture, discussing money, especially in the context of death, is often considered
improper. This cultural norm contributes to limited awareness of the financial aspects of death.
Despite an upward trend in the total premiums of the insurance industry in the Philippines? , the
price to arrange for death care hovers between P15,000 ~ P500,000' ; a substantial amount
inaccessible to most Filipinos.®

This bill aims to provide crucial support to indigent Filipino families by offering a 50% discount
on funeral services and ensuring that extremely poor families receive these services at the lowest
cost, nationwide.

* https://psa.gov.ph/content/registered-deaths-philippines-
20220#:~:text=An%20average%2001%201%2C862%20deaths%20registered%20per%20dayétext=This%20is%20equival
‘ent%420t0%420a,about%4201920death%¢20per%Z0minut

2 https://www-goldenhaven.com.ph/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-die-in-the-philippines/

3 https://mmw.statista.com/statistics/142331 7/philippines-total-value-of-insurance-premiums/

“ https://www goldenhaven.com.ph/blog/how-much-does-a-funeral-service-cost-in-the-phitippines/
* https://www.rappler.com/business/charts-cost-dying-grieving-philippines/



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

10857

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by Representatives GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO

AN ACT GRANTING A FIFTY PERCENT (50%) DISCOUNT FROM FUNERAL SERVICES TO
INDIGENT FAMILIES AND FREE FUNERAL SERVICES TO EXTREMELY POOR
FAMILIES NATIONWIDE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION. 1. Short title. - This Act shall be known as "Free and Discounted Funeral Services 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 discounts from funeral
services to indigent families and free funeral services to extremely poor families.

SECTION. 3. Definit

n of Terms — The following terms as used in this Act shall mean the following:

a) "Poor” — refers to families whose income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and/or who cannot afford in a sustained
manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, housing or other essential
amenities of life, as defined under Republic Act No. 8425, otherwise known as the "Social Reform
and Poverty Alleviation Ad’. The Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) established under
Republic Act No. 11315 of the local government unit, with the supervision of the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA), shall be used to determine the degree of indigency of the family, whether
indigent or extremely poor;

b) "Funeral Services" refers to preparation of funeral documents, embalming, viewing, interment or
burial services, cremation and inurament services, including the provision of a casket or um, as the
case maybe, offered by mortuaries. The standard package of funeral services will cover:

a. Transfer of deceased from place of death to the mortuary for embalming and applying of
cosmetics within a 25-kilometer radius of mortuary;

b. An Ordinary Plain Casket and casket stand for viewing of body or umn in case of cremation;


c. Maximum of three (5) days viewing residence of the family;
4. Use of funeral viewing equipment including lighting;

€. Use of funeral vehicle for interment within a 15-kilometer radius from the place of viewing
to the place of burial; and

SECTION 4. Free Funeral Services for Extremely Poor Families, ~ Free funeral services shall be
provided for extremely poor families by accredited mortuaries anywhere in the country. The said free
services shall be given to only one (1) immediate family member per month per mortuary branch. Provided,
said fiuneral service does not exceed the cost of the mortuary’s minimum funeral service package of fifteen
thousand pesos (P20,000). Provided further, that the grant of free funeral services under this Act is without
prejudice to the right of the beneficiary to avail of upgraded funeral services given by the mortuary. The
difference in cost shall be borne by the family of the deceased.

SECTION 5. Discounted Funeral Services for Indigent Families. - A fifty percent (50%) discount on
funeral services Shall be granted to indigent families by mortuaries 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 mortuary'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 government.

SECTION 6. Requirements for Availing Free or Discounted Funeral Services. ~ Before an indigent or
extremely poor family can avail of the free or discounted funeral services, the following documents shall
be submitted: (a) certificate of indigency issued by the barangay or the local social welfare office of the
local government unit (LGU), stating whether the family is either indigent or extremely poor 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 mortuary; (b) death certificate; end (c) funeral
contract between the beneficiary’s family, the accredited mortuary and the authorized DSWD personnel.

SECTION 7. Reimbursement. ~ Mortuaries granting discounted or free services to indigent or extremely
poor beneficiaries may seek reimbursement for the cost of the services from any regional office of the
DSWD upon the approval of the Regional Director. The reimbursement will be based on the stipulations of
the signed contract between the poor family, the mortuary, and the authorized DSWD personnel.

SECTION 8. Lead Agency. — The DSWD shall be the lead agency in the implementation of the provisions
of this Act and shall engage the funeral services of mortuaries in the country.

SECTION 9. Role of Local Government Units (LGUs). — Notwithstanding the preceding section, the
local government units are enjoined to fulfill their devolved function as mandated by Republic Act No.
7160 or the Local Government Code, and Presidential Decree No. 856 otherwise known as the Sanitation
Code, in providing assistance to indigent and extremely poor families in their respective areas at their own
expense. Further, the LGUs Will waive fees and charges which include burial or interment permit,
cremation permit, transfer permit, disinterment permit, and cost of Death Certificate.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be
charged again9t the allocation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD).


SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this
Act, the Secretary of the DSWD shail, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local
Government and the Philippine Mortuary Association, with the participation of local government units,
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 12 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 13. Repealing Clause. — Any provision of law or regulations inconsistent herewith is hereby
repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 14, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,