Mortuary industry seeks ways to cope with global standards
Service providers for the care of the departed held its third annual convention in
With the theme, “Defining Our Role in the Philippine Health Sector,” The Philippine Mortuary Association (PMA) members were appraised of the developments in the modern ways of caring not only of the remains, but also in attending to the needs of the members of the surviving family.
Renato Dychangco, PMA president and chief executive officer of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, said that the mortuary service in the country, which has not been considered as an industry, is slowly emerging as one of the key players in the health sector providing noble services in the proper, sanitary, and humane way of treating the departed.
“It is the intention of the association that we regularly inform the public of our existence as an industry and that our services are continually keeping up with the international standard. And as we progress, it is our hope that we could do more for the country,” Dychangco said.
Dondon, a mortician from Quezon Province, said that the organization of the mortuary service providers came just in time so that the industry players can have a voice to air their collective concerns, especially that there is no law governing the care of the dead.
“And besides, we want to let the society know that our endeavor is important and needed in the community,” Dondon said.
He said that growing in a family whose livelihood is to care for the dead, he has been accustomed to being referred to as the “kabaong (coffin)” by his classmates in the elementary grades. And during high school when he started to operate the hearse, his reference has become more morbid: “The patay (the dead).” “But I did not mind all those name calling since I knew that my family were into a descent means of livelihood, an even a big help to the community,” Dondon stressed.
Rep. Arthur Pingoy Jr., one of the guest speakers, touched on the need for Congress to enact a law defining the mortuary industry and its function in the community.
In his topic outline, Pingoy pointed that the mortuary industry has been ignored by most people, even by lawmakers. “Perhaps it’s due to our inherent fear of death or anything connected to it.”
He said that in the 14th Congress, there has not been any bill filed in both the Senate and the House dealing with the Memorial Care Industry. In fact, Congress has not passed any significant legislation concerning the industry for the last thirty-three years and the only legislation which deals directly with memorial services is Presidential Decree No. 856 or the Code on Sanitation of the
“There is the need to professionalize/regulate the practice of embalming but the Code on Sanitation is inadequate for this purpose that a law defining the industry is important,” Pingoy said in a statement, adding that even the practice of cremating remains has no provision in the Sanitation Code.
He further stated that with the approval of RA 9439, the Hospital Detention Law, there is a clamor for a similar law to prohibit funeral establishments from the practice of keeping the cadaver from the custody of the bereaved family due to nonpayment or settlement of accounts.
On the other hand, the participants were reminded of the health hazards in the embalming room when handling remains. They were updated by Dr. Jeff Chanchellor on the safety
precautions that mortuary personnel must bear in mind, particularly on the communicable diseases that a dead body might possess and how to avoid getting contaminated.
Chanchellor pointed out that the necessary safeguards, such as putting on the appropriate clothing, mask, gloves, must be among the priority safety gadgets that mortuary operators provide for their embalming personnel.
The waste disposal practices, which is one of the concerns of the PMA -to protect the environment – must be clearly adhered to by the mortuary operators and keep its mandate in keeping the sanitary condition in and out of the mortuary establishment. - Butch D. Enerio
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