Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative TEODORICO “NONONG” T. HARESCO, JR. 
AN ACT 
GRANTING A FIFTY PERCENT (50%) DISCOUNT FROM FUNERAL 
SERVICES TO POOR AND INDIGENT FAMILIES AND FREE FUNERAL 
SERVICES TO EXTREMELY POOR FAMILIES NATIONWIDE, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The cost of funeral services in the Philippines remains an overwhelming challenge for 
many poor Filipino families. The cheapest funeral services available range from Php 8,000 to 
Php 15,000. For those at the margins of society, the cost of dying may be deemed as even more 
expensive than the cost of living. 
We believe Filipinos ought to have dignity even in death. Social protection services, 
through burial assistance, should be made available and accessible to every Filipino citizen, for 
the deceased and their families to have a dignified and decent burial. 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the national agency 
tasked to provide social protection programs and services to Filipinos, has been offering burial 
assistance for years. They have recognized the struggles of poor Filipinos and the importance 
of providing social protection services to indigent families particularly on matters concerning 
burial or funeral services. 
May 31, 2023
6:23 pm
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Burial assistance includes the provision of assistance for payment of casket and funeral 
expenses incurred, wake burial plot or interment fees, and transportation of the deceased 
remains. Filipinos who avail of the current DSWD burial assistance program can receive up to 
Php 10,000 worth of cash assistance or benefits. 
As it is the duty of the State to provide for the social welfare and protection of its 
citizens, this bill seeks to provide immediate relief to indigent Filipino families, especially 
during the passing of their loved ones. This bill seeks to grant a fifty percent (50%) discount 
from funeral services to poor and indigent families, and free funeral services to extremely poor 
families nationwide. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative TEODORICO “NONONG” T. HARESCO, JR. 
AN ACT 
GRANTING A FIFTY PERCENT (50%) DISCOUNT FROM FUNERAL 
SERVICES TO POOR AND 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress  assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Free and Discounted Funeral 
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Services Act”. 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Principles and Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the 
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State to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and 
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independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide 
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adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved 
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quality of life for all. As part of fulfilling this, the State shall give discounts from funeral 
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services to poor and indigent families and free funeral services to extremely poor families. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – The following terms as used in this Act shall mean the 
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following: 
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a) “Poor” refers to families or individuals whose income falls below the poverty threshold
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as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and/or who
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cannot afford in a sustained manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food,
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health, education, housing or other essential amenities of life, as defined under Republic
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Act No. 8425, otherwise known as the “Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act.”
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b) “Indigent” refers to a person who has no visible means of income, or whose income is
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insufficient for the subsistence of his family, as identified by the Department of Social
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Welfare and Development (DSWD) based on specific criteria set for this purpose in
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accordance with the guiding principles set forth in this Act.
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c) “Extremely Poor” also known as “subsistence/food poor” refers to families or 
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individuals whose income falls below the subsistence threshold as defined by the 
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Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and/or whose income is not enough to meet the 
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basic food needs. 
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d) “Funeral Services” refers to preparation of funeral documents, embalming, viewing, 
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interment or burial services, cremation and inurnment services, including the provision 
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of a casket or urn, as the case maybe, offered by mortuaries. The standard package of 
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funeral services will cover:  
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i. 
Transfer of deceased from place of death to the mortuary for embalming and 
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applying of cosmetics within a 25-kilometer radius of mortuary; 
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ii. 
An Ordinary Plain Casket and casket stand for viewing of body or urn in case 
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of cremation; 
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iii. 
Two (2) to three (3) days viewing outside the funeral chapels such as the 
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Barangay Hall or residence of the family; 
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iv. 
Use of funeral viewing equipment including lighting and arania; 
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v. 
Use of funeral vehicle for interment within a 25-kilometer radius from the place 
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of viewing to the place of burial; and 
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vi. 
Unless for compelling reason, interment only on weekdays and on official time, 
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Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., except on regular holidays.  
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SECTION 4. Free funeral services for Extremely Poor Families – Free funeral services shall 
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be provided for extremely poor families by accredited mortuaries anywhere in the country. The 
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said free services shall be given to only one (1) family member per month per mortuary branch: 
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Provided, said funeral service does not exceed the cost of the mortuary's minimum funeral 
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service package: Provided further, that the grant of free funeral services under this Act is 
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without prejudice to the right of the beneficiary to avail of upgraded funeral services given by 
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the mortuary. The difference in cost shall be borne by the family of the deceased.  
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SECTION 5. Discounts for Poor and Indigent Families on Funeral Services. – A fifty 
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percent (50%) discount on funeral services shall be granted to poor and indigent families by 
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mortuaries anywhere in the country but would only be applicable to At-Need funeral services 
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only: Provided, said funeral service does not exceed the cost of the mortuary's minimum funeral 
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service package. The grant of a discount under this Act is without prejudice to the right of the 
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beneficiary to avail of other financial assistance given by the government.  
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SECTION 6. Requirements for Availing Free or Discount. – Before a poor or indigent or 
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extremely poor family can avail of the free or discounted funeral services, the following 
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documents shall be submitted: (a) certificate of indigency issued by the barangay or the local 
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social welfare office of the local government unit (LGU), stating whether the family is either 
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indigent or extremely poor as defined under Section 3; Provided, however, that the certification 
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shall not be a requirement before any member of the family of the deceased could avail the 
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services of the mortuary; (b) death certificate; and (c) funeral contract between the beneficiary-
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family, the accredited mortuary and the authorized DSWD personnel.  
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SECTION 7. Reimbursement. – Mortuaries granting discounted or free services to indigent 
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or extremely poor beneficiaries may seek reimbursement for the cost of the services from any 
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regional office of the DSWD upon the approval of the Regional Director. The reimbursement 
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will be based on the stipulations of the signed contract between the poor family, the mortuary, 
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and the authorized DSWD personnel.  
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SECTION 8. Lead Agency. – The DSWD shall be the lead agency in the implementation of 
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the provision of this Act and shall engage the funeral services of mortuaries in the country.  
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SECTION 9. Role of Local Government Units (LGUs). – Notwithstanding the preceding 
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section, the local government units are enjoined to fulfill their devolved function as mandated 
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by Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code, and Presidential Decree No. 856 
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otherwise known as the Sanitation Code, in providing assistance to indigent and extremely poor 
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families in their respective areas at their own expense. Further, the LGUs will waive fees and 
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charges which include burial or interment permit, cremation permit, transfer permit, 
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disinterment permit, and cost of Death Certificate.  
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SECTION 10. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this 
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Act shall be charged against the allocation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the 
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).  
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SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within six (6) months from the 
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effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD shall, in coordination with the Department 
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of the Interior and Local Government, the NEDA, the PSA, and the Philippine Mortuary 
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Association, with the participation of local government units, promulgate the rules and 
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regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.  
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is declared invalid 
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or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.   
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, or 
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issuances or any part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
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the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.  
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Approved, 
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