Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
INTRODUCED BY TUTOK TO WIN
PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE SAM “SV” VERZOSA
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Death is certain. Some have the means to plan and prepare for it but others do
not have any means to do so. Those who are left behind, as unprepared as they are,
will have no choice but to bear the sorrow brought about by the loss of their loved
ones and the financial burden that goes along with it.
It is much even worse if the ones who are left behind are extremely poor or
indigent and are still dependent on the deceased for the much-needed love, care and
support.
This bill seeks to institutionalize the provision of burial assistance by granting
free funeral services to extremely poor families and a fifty percent (50%) discount
from funeral services to indigent families nationwide.
Providing burial assistance by means of free or discounted funeral services
gives dignity to the deceased and provides peace and comfort to those who are left
behind.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SAM “SV” VERZOSA
Representative
Tutok to Win Party-List
October 14, 2022
4:29 pm
5562


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
INTRODUCED BY TUTOK TO WIN
PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE SAM “SV” VERZOSA
AN ACT
GRANTING FREE FUNERAL SERVICES TO EXTREMELY POOR FAMILIES
AND FIFTY PERCENT (50%) DISCOUNT FROM FUNERAL SERVICES TO
INDIGENT 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 “Free and Discounted Funeral
Services Act.”
SEC. 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 grant free funeral
services to extremely poor families and shall give discounts from funeral services to
indigent families.
SEC. 3. Definition 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 Act”. The Community-Based Monitoring
1
5562


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 inurnment services,
including the provision of a casket or urn, as the case may be, offered by
mortuaries.  The standard package of funeral services will cover:
1.
Transfer of deceased from place of death to the mortuary for embalming
and applying of cosmetics within a 25-kilometer radius of mortuary;
2.
An ordinary plain casket and casket stand for viewing of body or urn in
case of cremation;
3.
Two (2) to three (3) days viewing outside the funeral chapels such as the
Barangay Hall or residence of the family;
4.
Use of funeral viewing equipments;
5.
Use of funeral vehicle for interment within a 25-kilometer radius from the
place of viewing to the place of burial; and
6.
Unless for compelling reasons, interment only on weekdays and on
official time, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., except on regular
holidays.
c.
“At-need” means at the time of death or after a death has occurred;
SEC. 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) family member per
month per mortuary branch. Provided, said funeral service does not exceed the cost
of the mortuary’s minimum funeral service package. 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.
SEC. 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
2


prejudice to the right of the beneficiary to avail of other financial assistance given by
the government.
SEC. 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;
and
(c)
funeral
contract
between
the
beneficiary-family, the accredited mortuary and the authorized DSWD personnel.
SEC. 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 field office of the DSWD. The reimbursement will be based on the
stipulations of the signed contract between the poor family, the mortuary, and the
authorized DSWD personnel.
SEC 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 the mortuaries in
the country.
SEC 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.
SEC. 10. Appropriations. The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this
Act shall be charged against the allocation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA)
of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
SEC 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD shall, in coordination with the
Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine Mortuary
Association, with the participation of the local government units, promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. Any provision of law or regulations inconsistent
herewith is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
3


SEC. 14. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
4