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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATE: AUG 2016

Quezon City | ore

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.

First Regular Session |

} PEQSTRATION UNIT
HOUSE BILL No. 3028) 4 ND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the Philippines, dying has become as costly as living itself. This is because most
Filipinos already live lives of utter poverty and still die poor and indebted till the end.
Funeral services generally are expensive, a stark and difficult reality confronting the large
majority of impoverished Filipinos.

‘A survey done on funeral services by the UP School of Urban and Regional Planning (2005)
revealed that the average funeral service package was twenty five thousand pesos (P 25,000).
Memorial lots in public and private cemeteries cost and showed an average of fifty thousand
pesos (PhP 50,000) for lot package including succeeding lease payments. Decent funeral
services include the transport of the corpse, provision of casket, embalming, interment and
conduct to the church and/or to the cemetery,

‘Traditionally, most Filipino families hold the funeral wake at home. The lack of space in
many residential areas, however, does not restrict the setting up of funeral wakes even on the
sides of the street adjacent to the dead man’s residence.

There are also instances where a funeral wake lasts for more than a week only because there
are not enough funds mainly gathered through abuloy (donations) to cover for the burial
expenses incurred.

It is this plight of many poor Filipinos that prompted Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares to
originally file this Bill during the 15" and 16" Congresses.

Death to one’s family member becomes doubly tragic for those who earn a measly Php
429.00 a day (in the National Capital Region). According to the National Statistical
Coordination Board, the number of poor families in relation to the total population remains
unchanged since 2006. That translates to 28 out 100 Filipino families, or 25 million Fi
living on less than P50 a day in 2012. This wage structure and economic data demonstrate
that our people can neither sustain their daily needs let alone able to shoulder the funeral
expenses of their departed loved ones.



Itis the duty of the State to provide for the welfare and security of its citizens. This measure
aims to provide immediate relief to the poor, especially during the loss of their loved ones,

The passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

Approved,

Rep. CARLOS he T.ZARATE
Bayan Muna Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3028

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T, ZARATE

AN ACT.
GRANTING FIFTY PERCENT (50%) DISCOUNTS FROM
FUNERAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT FAMILIES AND GRANTING 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 Republic of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Funeral Services Discount Act of 2011."

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 enough discounts from funeral services to indigent families.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. — ‘The following terms as used in this Act shall mean the
following:

(a) "Indigent Family" refers to a family whose monthly income is equivalent to the
minimum wage set in the region where they reside.

(b) “Extremely Poor Family” refers to a family whose monthly income is less than the
minimum wage set in the region where they reside.

(c) "Funeral Services" refer to preparation of funeral documents, embalming,
interment and burial services or cremation services, including the provision of a casket,
offered by funeral homes offering such services. Furthermore, the standard package of
funeral services shall be:

1,) A Junior Lizo Casket and a cart to bring the body inside the chapel;

2.) For at least 5 days of Vigil;

3.) A chapel with at least 20 seating capacity with air-conditioning systems,
lightings and arania;

4.) An ambulance to be utilized within 20-25 kilometer radius or within Metro
Manila by the Funeral home. If the discount will be availed in the province, it

should be included in the package;
3


5.) Documentation

Section 4. Free funeral services for Extremely Poor Families- Free funeral services shall be
provided for Extremely Poor Families by funeral homes anywhere in the country. Provided,
said funeral service or the package selected by the beneficiary does not exceed the cost of the
Funeral Home’s minimum funeral service package.

Section 5. Discounts for Indigent Families on Funeral Services.- A fifty percent (50%)
discount on funeral services shall be granted to indigent families by funeral homes anywhere
in the country, Provided, said funeral service or the package selected by the beneficiary does
not exceed the cost of the Funeral Home’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 Discount. - Before an indigent family or extremely
poor family can avail of the discount on funeral services, the following documents shall be
prepared for submission: death certificate, funeral contract and a certificate as indigent or
extremely poor beneficiary from the barangay or the local social welfare offices of the local
government unit(s) (LGUs) or from the DSWD regional or national offices that they belong
to indigent families 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 funeral homes.

‘Section 7. Reimbursement or Tax Credit. - Funeral Homes granting discounts or free
services to indigent beneficiaries or extremely poor beneficiaries may reimburse the cost of
the discount from any regional offices of the DSWD upon the approval of the Regional
Director or convert the same as tax credits provided that proper certification as to the veracity
of the claim is certified true and correct by the DSWD. The tax credit may be used for a
period not exceeding five (5) years from the day the discount was given or from the date
appearing in the official receipt.

Section 8. Implementing Agency. - The DSWD shall implement the provision of this Act and
issue the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the objectives of this Act.

Section 9, 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).

Section 10. 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 11. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of law or regulations inconsistent herewith is
hereby repealed, revoked or modified accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,