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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8920

Introduced by: HON. LORETO LEO S, OCAMPOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Death has always been an unpleasant subject. Dying in the Philippines leaves bereaved
families physically, emotionally and financially drained. A long list of funeral customs and traditions
has to be observed before putting a loved one to his final rest, entailing a huge amount of expens

Indigent members of the society can barely afford to feed themselves. Death leaves the
bereaved family in worse financial distress as they heed a wide range of personal, cultural,
and traditional beliefs and practices.

In line with the policy of the State to provide citizens with adequate social services, this bill
seeks to provide free funeral services to indigent members of the society. Furthermore, this bill
seeks to ease the financial burden of the bereaved family.

In view of the foregoing, enactment of this bill is earnestly requested.

LORETO LEO S. OCAMPOS.
Representative
2 District, Misamis Occidental


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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8920
Se — eee

Introduced by: HON. LORETO LEO S. OCAMPOS

AN ACT PROVIDING FREE FUNERAL SERVICES TO THE INDIGENT MEMBERS OF
‘THE SOCIETY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the Free Funeral Services Act of 2010.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It shall be the policy of the State to provide Free Funeral
Services to Indigent members of the Society.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms.

a. Funeral Services. — It shall include the cost or expenses of the casket, the memorial
services on the day of the burial and cemetery charges.

b. Indigent. — Those who have no visible means of income or whose income is not sufficient
for the subsistence of his family as determined and certified by the barangay units they
belong to.

c. Family. — Any member of the family within the third degree of affinity or consanguinity.

SECTION 4. Eligibility to Free Funeral Services. — All indigent members of society as identified
and certified by the barangay shall be eligible to avail of the Free Funeral Services. Provided, that the
members of the family availing of the Free Funeral Service for their kin shall exhibit the latter’s Death
Certificate at the time of the application. Provided further, that the members of the family claiming such
benefit shall be able to prove their relationship to the deceased.

SECTION 5. Forfeiture of Free Funeral Services. — Any person who is found to have sufficient
means to pay for the costs of funeral services shall forfeit his right to avail of the Free Funeral Services.

SECTION 6. Operating Fund. — The National Government and the Local Government Units
shall allocate a portion of its budget to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and
subsisting.

SECTION 8. 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 is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,