Free funeral services for indigents now a law

MANILA, Philippines — A bill that seeks to provide free funeral services to poor families who cannot afford a proper burial for their deceased has lapsed into law.

The indigent funeral package under Republic Act 12309 or the “Free Funeral Services Act” includes the preparation of funeral documents, embalming, interment or burial services, transport, cremation and inurnment services.

The measure lapsed into law on Sept. 28.

RA 12309 defines poor families as those whose income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the Department of Economic Planning and Development.

The poor households are also those who cannot sustain or provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, housing or other essentials amenities of life as defined under RA 8425 or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act.

Free funeral services will be provided to families who are in crisis situations as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, including but not limited to indigent families or those affected by calamities, disasters or other emergency circumstances.

Free funeral services will be provided to poor families per death of a family member by accredited funeral establishments anywhere in the country, provided these establishments will have uniform indigent funeral package.

Families availing themselves of the funeral package need to present the following documents: valid identification card of the claimant or beneficiary; death certificate issued by the hospital or city/municipal health office or certification from the tribal chieftain and a funeral contract signed by the representative of the deceased’s family, the funeral establishment and an authorized DSWD personnel.

A social case study must also be prepared by any registered social worker.

The DSWD will be the lead agency in the implementation of the law.

Violators of RA 12309 will be penalized with a fine not exceeding P200,000 and a suspension of license to operate for a period not exceeding six months.