Sen. Raffy T. Tulfo. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — A measure seeking free funeral services to poor families has been filed in the Senate.
Senator Raffy Tulfo filed Senate Bill No. 1695 as he pointed out how funeral expenses could burden bereaved families.
“Funerals are integral rites that allow families to grieve and mourn the loss of their departed loved ones. The ceremony provides a chance for people to gather, honor, and celebrate the life of the deceased. However, for many poor families death can also equate to a crippling amount of debt; and evidently a heavy burden for those left behind,” the bill’s explanatory note stated.
“[M]any poor families are not only wracked with grief but also deep financial stress that may even lead them to borrow funds from lenders with high-interest rates,” it added.
Tulfo wants to institutionalize free burial and funeral services to “the extremely poor nationwide” as funeral and burial services in the country range from P10,000 to hundreds of thousands of pesos.
Under his bill, benefits include preparing funeral documents, embalming, viewing, burial, or cremation. Accredited mortuaries shall provide a casket or urn.
Families whose combined gross income does not exceed P15,000 a month does not own real property or a vehicle will be entitled to free burial and funeral services.
Currently, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has a Burial Assistance Program that aims to assist indigent households by providing P10,000 in benefits.