Morticians to hold confab in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Mortuary Association will hold its 5th Annual Convention in Cebu to discuss updates and concerns of the mortuary industry in the country.

The convention will start today and will run for three days with line up of different activities, including discussions on various topics that members need to know as service providers for the care of the departed.

During the first day, Mr. Renato Tanquintic of La Funeraria Paz will discuss on the topic “Surviving the trials of tragedies.”

Dr. Josephie Hipolito, secretariat of the Committee of Examiners for Undertakers and Embalmers (CEUE) under the Department of Health will report about updates on policies and programs of the government.

CEUE is in-charge of accrediting or licensing embalmers and ensuring that unscrupulous practices of unlicensed embalmers are prevented.

 Other topics to be discussed include health care waste management in mortuary setting by Engineer Vicente Vosotros, “Lead, follow or get out of the way,” by Jeffrey Kevin Chancellor, “Managing perspective to success” by Francis Kong and the “Role of Mortuary Professionals in Philippine disaster protocol” to be tackled by Dr. Raquel Fortun.

The PMA holds annual conventions in its efforts to “professionalize funeral service and upgrade the standard of death care in the Philippines by providing a unified voice to the Government offering education, information, programs and services to help members enhance their quality of service to families.”

As the society keeps on transforming to modernity, PMA sees it vital to be updated with the modern technology as according to the international standard in delivering such services.

The PMA also make sure that members are always reminded of the waste disposal practices, which is the group’s primary concern at all times, to protect the environment. It also sees to it that best waste disposal management is adhered to by the mortuary operators while sanitary condition in and out of the mortuary establishment is kept. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/WAB (THE FREEMAN)