Funeral parlors, crematoria complying with waste law

CEBU, Philippines - The Solid Waste Management Division of Environmental Management Bureau-7 assured the public that funeral parlors and crematoria in Cebu are complying with the Solid Waste Management Law.

In a forum yesterday, EMB-7 confirmed that all funerals and crematoria in Cebu were issued Environmental Compliance Certificate before they were allowed to operate.

Aside from the issuance of ECCs, the operations are under strict monitoring, said EMB-7 regional solid waste management coordinator Amancio S. Dongcoy.

DENR has amended Department Administrative Order No. 30 Series of 2003 requiring these business establishments to have a full-blown environmental impact assessment.

Previously, they are only required to have an initial environmental examination if the area exceeds or is equal to five hectares for cemeteries, or if it exceeds or is equal to one hectare for funeral parlors and crematoria.

Recent studies have shown of the health risks that wastes generated from these establishments. The DENR has earlier reported that improperly disposed chemical formaldehyde from funeral parlors is a threat to public health.

Likewise, cremation in crematoria, if done without mitigating measures, may produce air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and particulates.

Under the amended AO 30, owners are now required submit an environmental management program which will serve as the basis for evaluation of their compliance with the environmental laws.

With the joint monitoring agreement with the Department of Health, EMB has been assigned to monitor the air quality while the DOH monitors on waste management.

So far, EMB observes that funerals have already adopted a modern procedure in embalming in a way that they could manage their waste effectively.

Dongcoy said that the previous procedure in which internal organs of a corpse is taken out and dumped is not done anymore.

Dead bodies undergoing embalming are injected with formalin at first. The blood is then drained from the body and placed in a septic vault required by DOH. - Jessica Ann R. Pareja/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)