House OKs affordable casket bill

CEBU, Philippines — Deputy Speaker and Cebu Fifth District Rep. Duke Frasco’s proposed “Affordable Funeral Service Act” was among the several bills that the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading during its plenary session on Tuesday, July 30.

House Bill 102 seeks to help indigents or poor families with departed loved ones to have a decent but affordable funeral services. Under the proposed measure, funeral establishments shall be compelled to give affordable funeral services to poor families at a maximum cost of P20,000. This shall already include coffin, mortuary services, and other related services.

“The Affordable Funeral Service Act upholds the dignity of every Filipino, regardless of their income class, and ensures equitable access to affordable funeral services,” Frasco said during his sponsorship speech of the bill.

Frasco wants to help indigent families honor their departed loved ones without having to face financial struggle. According to him, he was moved after he personally witnessed some families during his term as town mayor of Liloan having financial struggle to have a dignified funeral for their departed loved ones.

Once enacted into law, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be tasked to monitor and regulate prices of funeral services. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also extend burial assistance to qualified applicants.

Other measures passed on third and final reading were House Bill No. 10422, which seeks to amend the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 to further strengthen the disaster response in the country; HB No. 10424 or the proposed “Motorcycles for Hire Act” regulating the operation of motorcycles-for-hire; and HB No. 10439 or the proposed “Access to Medical Cannabis Act”. – /FPL (FREEMAN)