Cebu City will give burial aid to kin of COVID dead

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The city government will extend financial assistance to families whose loved ones died of COVID-19 to help defray the expenses for funeral services.

“We want the money to go to the funeral homes so the grieving families will not be inconvenienced in processing many documents,” said Councilor David Tumulak, the program’s proponent.

Families can choose either the P16,000 assistance that comes with a coffin and free services for the dead, or P35,000 for cremation.

Mayor Edgardo Labella approved the release of P15 million to fund the program. This was sourced from the trust fund (P5 million) and quick response fund (P10 million) from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

To avail of the program, relatives should present a death certificate to prove that their deceased loved ones had died of COVID-19 and were residents of Cebu City.

Difficult situation

“We understand how difficult it is to lose a loved one. They don’t only think about the hospital dues but also the cost of the funeral,” Tumulak said. “It is only proper that we find ways to help our fellow Cebuanos, especially [during] this time [when] they do not only have to contend with the health implications of [contracting] the virus but the financial [impact] as well.”

At least 1,000 niches will be built in four Catholic cemeteries in this city to address the shortage of burial spaces caused by the rising number of deaths due to COVID-19.

290 niches

Last week, the Archdiocese of Cebu approved the request of the city government to build more tombs to accommodate the remains of those who died of COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Tumulak said 290 niches would be constructed in each of the Catholic cemeteries in the villages Calamba, Luz, Talamban, and Carreta.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma earlier supported the city’s proposal to help families who were having difficulty in finding tombs for their loved ones. Spike in deaths

Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the city’s Emergency Operations Center, said the number of COVID-related deaths as of the last week of August reached 226, which was a big jump from the number of fatalities recorded in June, at 14, and July, at 86.

Cebu City recorded 4,276 active cases of COVID-19 as of Aug. 31, according to the Department of Health in Central Visayas.

Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the city logged a total of 37,832 cases with 32,387 recoveries, and 1,169 deaths.

Cebu City remains under modified enhanced community quarantine until Sept. 7.

—NESTLE SEMILLA