City owes funeral parlor P1.5 million

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City government was reminded by one of the funeral parlors to settle its obligations amounting to P1.5 million representing the city’s burial assistance program to their constituents.

Lawyer Zigfred Diaz, vice president for operations of the St. Francis Memorial Homes, yesterday reminded the city to settle their balance.

Diaz, in his letter addressed to Mayor Michael Rama, said that Barangay San Nicolas has incurred a balance of P720,000. This was followed by barangay Tisa with P424,000 and barangay Guadalupe with P312,000.

“As a business, we rely on regular payments from our customers and a stable cash flow for our survival,” Diaz said.

According to Diaz, the problem of the delay of payment has not been resolved. The respective barangay captains promised to expedite the payments but until now it has not been delivered.

The city government agreed to partner with funeral parlors under the city’s burial program, which gives the family of each dead person P8,000 in coffin and embalming services and a P10,000 cash assistance.

Since the city council already approved in their budget the P9 million for the burial assistance, Diaz hopes they will be prioritized in the payment.

“We highly appreciate it if you could help expedite the process in the releasing of payment to us considering the delays that have been incurred,” Diaz said.

Rama yesterday promised to pay the owners and fix the problems hounding the free burial assistance program especially the delay in delivering burial services to their constituents.

Rama said he will call for a meeting with the barangay captains concerned, councilor Jose Daluz III and city accounting department to set up procedures for the release of payments.

Funeral parlor owners who have yet to be paid by the city already appealed to simplify the process of claiming payments and to reduce the requirements for the free burial. (FREEMAN)