House unanimously OKs P20,000 cap on funeral expenses for indigent Filipinos

The House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill mandating funeral establishments to limit the funeral expenses for indigent Filipinos to P20,000.

All 198 House members present during the plenary session voted yes to House Bill 102, principally authored by Deputy Speaker and Cebu lawmaker Vincent Franco Frasco.

Under the bill, the P20,000 funeral package for indigents should include mortuary services, the provision of casket or coffin to hold the deceased, and other related services.

Likewise, the bill mandates the Department of Trade and Industry to monitor and regulate the prices of funeral services.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, for its part, is likewise tasked to extend funeral/burial or financial assistance to qualified applicants.

“This legislation is one not merely of regulation, but most importantly, a matter of social justice,” Frasco said in a statement.

Frasco said the measure will address the existing great injustice and is in accordance with the government’s duty to protect the human dignity in life and in death.

“By passing the Affordable Funeral Service Act, the dignity of every Filipino is upheld, no matter the income class, and equitable access to affordable funeral services is assured, alleviating the pain and sorrow that inevitably comes with death,” he added. — BM, GMA Integrated News