APRIL 27, 2013

NR # 3086B

Discounted funeral services for the poor pushed

Dying does not have to be as costly as living in the Philippines as two lawmakers batted for a 50 percent discount on funeral services. Under House Bill 4002, which the authors intend to re-file in the 16 th Congress given the chance, a 50 percent discount on funeral services shall be granted to indigent families by funeral homes anywhere in the country provided the funeral service or package selected by the beneficiary does not exceed P30,000. Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Neri J. Colmenares and Teddy Casio said the discount would enable poor families to give their departed loved ones a decent burial. Casio said majority of people especially those living below the poverty level cannot afford the expensive funeral services. A survey done on funeral services by the UP of Urban and Regional Planning (2005) revealed that the average funeral service package was P20,000, Casio said. Colmenares, for his part, said death to ones family member becomes doubly tragic for those who earn a measly amount, which is not even enough to feed their family. He cited the survey by the National Statistic office which showed that based on the 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), 80 percent of Filipino families are struggling to survive on P284.33 a day with the poorest 10 percent having incomes of only P90 a day. This wage structure and economic data demonstrate that our people can neither sustain their daily needs let alone be able to shoulder the funeral expenses of their departed loved ones, Colmenares said The bill requires the submission of a death certificate, funeral contract and a certificate as indigent beneficiary from the barangay or the local social welfare offices of the local government unit(s) (LGUs) or from the DSWD regional or national offices before an indigent family can avail of the discount on funeral services. (30) mvip