Muntinlupa, funeral homes to forge ties for ‘Big One’

MANILA, Philippines — Taking a more proactive approach in the event of a catastrophic earthquake, the Muntinlupa government will sign agreements with funeral parlors in the city.

In preparation for the “Big One” or the anticipated magnitude-8.0 earthquake centered around the West Valley Fault system, Mayor Ruffy Biazon has authorized the city council to enter into a memorandum of agreement with four funeral parlors for the recovery, processing and disposal of mass casualties at no cost to the city government.

“The immediate processing of mass casualties is essential to ensure the safety of survivors as well as to facilitate the grieving process,” Biazon said in a statement.

The city council approved Resolutions 217 to 220 enabling the local government to sign agreements with Lim De Mesa Funeral Parlor-Putatan, Lim De Mesa-Bayanan, King Harold Funeral Parlor in Bayanan, and Eastern Funeral Services in Alabang.

Muntinlupa is straddled by the West Valley Fault from north to south. Running the whole length of the city, the fault line cuts through almost all of the city’s nine barangays.