NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
/;f.:
25 .IAN 27 P5:58
SENATE
S. NO.____2B£5-
(In substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 879 and 1695 
taking into consideration House Bill No. 102)
Prepared and submitted jointly by the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare, 
and Rural Development; Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship; and Finance; with 
Senators Poe, Tulfo and Marcos, as authors thereof
AN ACT
GRANTING FREE FUNERAL SERVICES TO POOR FAMILIES, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Funeral Services
2 Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote a
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just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
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nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
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services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality
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of life for all. As part of fulfilling this, the State shall give free funeral services to poor
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families who cannot afford a proper burial for the deceased.
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Sec 3. Definition of Terms— The following terms as used in this Act shail
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mean the foilowing:
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a. Poor refers to those famiiy whose income fails below the poverty threshold as
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defined by the Nationai Economic Deveiopment Authority (NEDA) and/or who
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cannot afford in a sustained manner to provide their minimum basic needs of
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food, heaith, education, housing, or other essentiai amenities of iife as defined
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under Republic Act No. 8425, otherwise known as the "Social Reform and
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Poverty Alleviation Act".
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b. Funeral Services refer to the preparation of funeral documents, embalming,
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interment or burial services, transport, cremation, and inurnment services,
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inciuding the provision of a casket or urn and venue, as the case may be,
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offered by mortuaries.
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c. Funerai Estabiishment inciudes funerai parlors, funeral chapels and any similar
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place used in the preparation, storage and care of the body of a deceased
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person for burial or cremation.
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Sec 4. Coverage. — Famiiies whose income fails below the poverty threshold
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as defined by the National Economic 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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heaith, education, housing, or other essential amenities of life as defined under
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Republic Act No. 8425, otherwise known as the "Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation
21 
Act".
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Sec 5. Free Funeral Services for Poor Families. — Free funerai services
23 shali be provided for poor famiiies by accredited funerai estabiishments anywhere in


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the country. The said free funeral services shail be given to only one (1) family
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member per month per funeral establishment. Provided that, in coordination with the
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), every funeral establishment
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shali have an indigent funerai package which shaii be uniform in aii funerai
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establishments regardiess of its type or iocation that shall be available to all poor
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families, as determined by the DSWD.
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Sec 6. Requirements for Availing Free Funeral Services. —The deceased
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family must present a Certificate of Indigency and a case study verifying their indigent
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status from either the medicai sociai service of a hospitai, the locai social welfare
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office or the DSWD to the funerai estabiishment in order to avail of the free funeral
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service package.
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Sec. 7. Lead Agency. — The DSWD shali be the lead agency in the
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implementation of the provisions of this Act and shaii engage in the funerai services
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of funeral establishments in the country.
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Sec. 8. Reimbursement. — Funeral establishments granting free services to
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poor beneficiaries may seek reimbursement for the cost of the services from any
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regional office of the DSWD upon the approvai of the Regionai Director. The
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reimbursement wili be based on the stipuiations of the signed contract between the
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poor family, the mortuary, and authorized DSWD personnei.
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Sec. 9. Penalties. - Any vioiation of this Act shaii be penalized with a fine not
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exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) and a suspension of license
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to operate for a period not exceeding six (6) months.


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Repetitive violations after the lifting of the suspension of its license to operate
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shall be penalized with a fine not exceeding Four hundred thousand pesos
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(P400,000.00) and a revocation of such license to operate.
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Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
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implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations
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for the Assistance to Individuais In Crisis Situations (AICS) Program and other similar
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programs of the DSWD. Thereafter, such amount, as may be necessary, shall be
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included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 20. Separability Clause. —If any portion or provision of the Act is
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declared void or unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions hereof shail
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not be affected by such declaration.
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Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. — Any provision of law or regulations
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inconsistent herewith is hereby released, modified, or amended accordingly.
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Sec. 21. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
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Approved,