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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Sogsé XS
Holse Bill No. 3848

Introduced by Rep. Arthur R. Defensor Jr.

PLANATORY NO’

In an ironic twist, the cost of dying has outpaced the cost of living in our country.
Owing to the Filipino culture, the most pervasive practice of grieving for one’s loss is still the
customary funeral and burial. Such expenses, however, have become more and more
burdensome with each passing year. Costs for a burial are primarily composed of the co!
funeral, cemetery plot, and the dreadful expenses incurred in a wake that may last for months.
Based on contemporary figures, a funeral can cost from P8,000 to P10,000 for indigent
clients, including the cost of a coffin, but there are no estimate figures for the really
burdensome wake expenses. Other funeral packages easily range from hundreds of thousands
to millions of pesos. The figure easily rises further with the average cost of a cemetery plot in
1 private cemetery costing at least P70,000.00. Other cemetery plots can cost as much as
million of pesos." Public cemeteries afford little relief as diminishing spaces renders public
cemeteries unable to meet the rising demands of a bigger population. While these amounts
can be afforded by middle class and other more affluent families, these costs are prohibitive
and exorbitant for our countrymen mired in poverty.

In contrast, a cremation costs one-third that of a traditional funeral.” This figure can
easily be achieved, or even lessened, if the cremation is undertaken by the government for
digent families. However, since cremation does not entail other costs, it offers much needed
relief to those who have less in life. It is the belief of the undersigned that doing so will not
simply alleviate the financial burden of our underprivileged countrymen but also empower
them through the more efficient use of their hard-earned income.

Under the law, it is the duty of municipalities and cities to establish public cemeteries
in connection with the burial of the dead, This Bill seeks to complement such power by
mandating the establishment of public crematoriums as part of basic services and facilities to
be provided by the local government unit concerned, It is envisioned that such public
crematoriums will benefit not only the general public but more importantly indigent families
whose income denies them of a decent burial for their loved ones.

‘The foregoing duly considered, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

' Dennis Carcamo, The cost of dying for the wealthy, The Philippine Star, October 30, 2013 available ar
hhipi//ww.philstar.com/news-feature/2013/10/30/1250755/cost-dying-wealthy (accessed on November 18,
2013),

aya Lowe, Funeral services in numbers, Rappler.com, November 1, 2012 available at:
bitp://www.tappler.com/business/15265-funeral-services-in-numbers (accessed on November 18, 2013).



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRE!
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 3848

Introduced by Representative Arthur R. Defensor, Jr.

AN ACT

MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC CREMATORIUMS IN CITIES
AND MUNICIPALITIES AND EXTENDING FREE CREMATION SERVICES TO
INDIGENT FAMILIES AMENDING FOR SUCH PURPOSE THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COD!

Section 1. Establishment of Public Crematoriums ~ Section 17 of Republic No. 7160,
‘as amended, otherwise known as the Local Government Code is hereby amended to read, as
follows:

Section 17. Basie Services and Facilities. «

(b) Such basie services and facilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

(2) For a Municipality

(x) Publie cemetery AND PUBLIC CREMATORIUM;

Section 2. Provision of Free Cremation Services for Indigents ~ Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, indigent decedents or a decedent belonging to an indigent family, as
determined on the basis of existing laws and regulation, may be cremated in public
crematoriums free of charge

‘The local city or municipal health officer shall duly record all cremations performed
in the public crematorium.


Section 3. Subsidy from the National Government — The costs for the establishment of
public crematoriums in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be subsidized by the
National Government by fifty percent (50%) of the total cost of construction of the
crematorium facility. The funds necessary for the subsidy shall be charge to the
appropriation of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The funds necessary for the subsidy shall be charge to the appropriation of the Department of
Interior and Local Government, shall issue the rules and regulations for the implementation

Section 4, Implementing Rules and Regulations ~ The Secretary of Interior and Local
Government shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation
of this Act.

tent with the

Section 5. Repealing Clause ~ All provisions of laws and rules incons
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 6. Separability Clause — If, for any reason, any section or provision of this
‘Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

ffectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
ation in a newspaper of general circulation.

Section 7.
following its publ