THE House of Representatives, during its plenary session yesterday, finally approved on Third and Final Reading, House Bill (HB) No. 102: An Act Providing for Funeral Services to Indigents, and Appropriating Funds Therefor. Principally authored by Deputy Speaker and Cebu 5th District Representative Vincent Franco “Duke” D. Frasco, HB No. 102, to be known as the “Affordable Funeral Service Act”, aims to mitigate the financial distress faced by families due to the exorbitant cost of funeral services in the Philippines. Its passage marks a significant step towards addressing a pressing concern among grieving Filipino families, especially those living in abject poverty.
The Affordable Funeral Service Act seeks to provide affordable funeral services to indigent and extremely poor families, ensuring that they can honor their departed loved ones without facing severe financial hardship. It mandates all funeral establishments to offer their services to indigent and extremely poor families at a maximum cost of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00). These include essential services such as mortuary services, provision of casket or coffin, and other related needs.
The bill was introduced in response to personal experiences shared by the sponsor, who has served as Mayor of Liloan and currently represents the 5th District of Cebu. Cong. Duke Frasco highlighted his frequent encounters with families in his district unable to afford dignified funeral services, leading them into debt and extreme distress. Under this measure, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be responsible for monitoring and regulating funeral service prices, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will extend funeral/burial or financial assistance to qualified applicants.
In his sponsorship speech during the Second Reading, Cong. Duke Frasco also emphasized that this legislation is not merely a regulation, it is fundamentally about social justice. “The Affordable Funeral Service Act upholds the dignity of every Filipino, regardless of their income class, and ensures equitable access to affordable funeral services”, Cong. Duke Frasco stated.
The passage of this bill by the 19th Congress promises to alleviate the suffering of grieving Filipino families and ensures that the deceased are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.
