Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE CITY MAYOR

Mandaluyong City

Executive Order ____

An order creating a Guideline in the disposal and shipment of the remains of

the deceased regardless of the cause of death, whether natural or confirmed
COVID19 cases, death of Persons under Investigation and Persons Under
Monitoring

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak as a

Public Health emergency of International concern last January 30, 2020 and a
Global Pandemic, WHO is recommending proper disposal of bodies to prevent
possible spread from secretions.

WHEREAS, in response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte through the

Department of Health to flatten the curve of inflicted individuals by COVID 19,
and to minimize the number of reported confirmed cases, the City deems it
necessary to implement a certain guidelines in the handling and disposal of
remains of death for the duration of this epidemic.

WHEREAS, it is the paramount concern of the city to protect its inhabitants from
COVID 19 and other deadly diseases, by providing a systematic and orderly way
in the handling and disposal of remains of the deceased.

WHEREAS, the alarming increase in the number of confirmed COVID19 cases

and mortality rate in the city must be addressed by the Local Government in order
to prevent the spread of the virus and to protect its inhabitants particularly
hospital/health center workers, funeral personnel and embalmers from contracting
the virus due to mishandling of the remains of the deceased;

WHEREAS, Department of Health has issued Department Order No. 2020-0067

laying down the “Guidelines on the disposal and shipment of the remains of
confirmed cases of 2019 Novel corona virus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-
NCov ARD) for proper implementation of respective Chiefs of medical centers;

WHEREAS, the said Department Order is in accordance with the Santitation Code
of the Philippines (PD 856) and Quarantine Law (RA 9271);
WHEREAS, this Executive Order serve suppletorily to the said Department Order,
to customize its application in the actual setting and condition of COVID19 cases
in the city.

THEREFORE it is hereby ordered that:

CHAPTER I

Section 1. Objective:

a. To adopt in tot the said Department of Health has issued Department

Order No. 2020-0067 laying down the “Guidelines on the disposal and
shipment of the remains of confirmed cases of 2019 Novel corona virus
Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-NCov ARD) for proper implementation
of respective Chiefs of medical centers whether government or private
with respect to the GENERAL guidelines and SPECIFIC Guidelines of
the same.

b. To prevent the spread of the COVID19 and its total eradication.

CHAPTER II

Section 2. Applicability

c. This Executive Order Guideline is applicable to handling of all kinds

deaths, whether COVID19 related or not.

d. Entities/Departments involved in this guideline are:

1. THE BARANGAY OFFICIALS

2. CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
3. CITY FUNERAL DEPATMENT
4. PRIVATE FUNERAL PARLORS
5. PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IN THE CITY OF
MANDALUYONG
6. CITY GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
7. CIVIL REGISTRY DEPARTMENT

e. Patients who died of COVID19 related cases whether they were found
positive or reported to be PUIs or PUMs
 f. Patients who died due to natural causes such as pre-existing health
conditions, accidents, death brought by criminal activities, suicides and
the likes.

CHAPTER III

Section 3. GUIDELINES IF CAUSE OF DEATH IS COVID19 RELATED OR

ANOTHER (cases that are confirmed COVID19, PUI, PUM) IF
PATIENT DIES IN HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE

I. The BARANGAY

1. AUTHORIZED PERSONS:
a. Barangay Captain
b. Barangay Kagawad
c. Barangay Secretary
d. Barangay Tanod

2. If the Barangay has listed the deceased as COVID19

positive, PUI or PUM, immediately after death of the
deceased, the family or the nearest kin must report the
same to the barangay to ensure that the deceased is a:

a. resident thereof,
b. date and time of death that was reported
c. that no foul play was reported.

The certification must be signed by the Barangay

Chairman.

3 The Barangay shall report the death to the City health

Office for proper assessment and documentation;

4 No personnel of the Barangay shall be allowed to go to

the residence of the deceased nor touch the cadaver of
the decease, to avoid contamination and spread of the
virus to another individual;

5 The Barangay must advise the family of the deceased that

as soon as the remains have been collected and
transported, no other family member or any body who
came in contact with the deceased will be allowed to leave
 their premises or houses, and must be subjected to strict
community quarantined, them being reported PUMs.

6 At the request of the family, their houses or premises may

be disinfected. The Barangay may coordinate the same
with the City General Services.

II. THE CITY HEALTH OFFICE

1. AUTHORIZED PERSONS:
a. City Health Officer
b. Barangay Health Physician
c. Private Physicians

2. The City Health office shall ensure that a 24 hour health

personnel is available in the health department for
assessment of the cause of death of the deceased;

3. The assigned health personnel will coordinate in the

preparation of the collection and transportation of the
Body for cremation with the City Funeral Department or to
a private funeral establishment if preferred by the family.

4. The assigned Health Physician will certify the cause of

death of the deceased in the death certificate

5. The health personnel shall be tasked in the preparation of

the cadaver before it be transported to the funeral
establishment

6. handling/attending healthworker must observe the specific

guidelines in SEC. 1V, Letter A of DO No. 2020-0067 in
the removal of body from the isolation area and transport
to cemetery and crematorium;

7. The health personnel shall be equipped with the following:

(under DO No. 2020-0067)

a. Appropriate disposal Personal Protective

Equipment
b. Gloves and masks
c. Cloth to wrap the cadaver
 d. Leak-proof Airtight cadaver bag
e. Tapes and bandages to ensure that the cadaver is
fully sealed to avoid leakage of fluid
f. Hypochlorite solution (50-100ppm) or any hospital
approved disinfectant

III. CITY FUNERAL DEPARTMENT OR OTHER PRIVATE

FUNERAL SERVICES

1. Funeral establishments shall provide the transport of the

cadaver from home/hospital to the burial site/crematorium.

2. Once the cadaver is delivered to the funeral service, such

shall be scheduled for immediate cremation.

3. The Funeral service personnel must comply with the

requirements of Section IV, letter C of DO No. 2020-0067
or requirement of the completion of death certificate
before cremation.

4. Funeral Service must explain to the family the procedure

of immediate cremation and why cremation is resorted to
any kind of Body disposal.

5. Funeral Service must also advise the family to maintain

certain distance to the cadaver must be strictly observed.

6. CREMATION
The alarming cases of COVID19 in the city and around the
country pose a great danger, and anxiety to the
constituents. Due to the scarcity of test kits, most PUIs
and PUMs have died prior to them being tested, or if
tested, results are too late. It is inevitable to conclude that
one’s cause of death could have or might have been
COVID. Hence, the City deems it necessary to impose
Cremation as the only form of disposal of the remains of
the deceased whether the cause of death be natural,
accident, or COVID19 related cases;

Section III, Letter B of DO No. 2020-0067 provides that,

 “Burial, preferably CREMATION shall be
done within 24-hours after death. However,
burial of the dead body shall, to the most
possible extent be in accordance with the
person’s religion or customs”

While the City upholds the constitutional mandate of

the right to religious freedom and practices enshrined in
Article 3 Section 5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
which provides that: “No law shall be made respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious
profession and worship, without discrimination or preference,
shall forever be allowed”, it is my firm belief the existence of
COVID19 which has claimed numerous lives around the
world and continuously threatens lives of my people, poses a
clear and present danger to the well being and welfare of
every Mandaleños that the State must prevent. In German v.
Barangan (G.R. No. L-68828, March 27, 1985) “For freedom
of religious expression, the Constitution assures generous
immunity, unless it can be shown that there is a clear and
present danger of substantive evil which the state has the
right to prevent.”

Furthermore, the City’s most paramount concern is

protecting Public Health, and upholding its citizen’s rights to
always feel safe and secure even in the premises of their own
abode. Thus, this Executive Order is in consonance with the
Declaration of Principles and State Policies respecting and
protecting public health of the city.

Article II Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine constitution provides that:

“The State shall protect and promote the right to

health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them.”

Article II Section 16

“The State shall protect and advance the right of

the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”
 Therefore it is hereby ordered, that any kind of death,
occurring for the duration of this Public Health emergency situation
proclaimed by the President of the Philippines, be immediately
cremated, subject to the following procedure:

a. The attending Physician must explain the reason why

outright cremation must be observed.

b. To have the members of the family sign a WAIVER

FORM, signifying that their consent was secured and they
agreed to the cremation procedure.

c. Should the family refuses to sign the cremation or and

insists on the other means of interment/burial, procedures
stated in Sec.IV, letter D, paragraph 3,4,5 of DO No.
2020-0067 must be followed.

IV. CITY CIVIL REGISTRY DEPARTMENT

In cases of COVID19 deaths, the City Civil Registry is

ordered to immediately register the said death, without any
further delay.

V. GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

1. The General Services Department shall ensure that equipment

necessary for the implementation of this order shall be made
readily available.

2. It is the task of the department to Disinfect the vehicles used in

the implementation of this Order.

Section 4. GUIDELINES IF CAUSE OF DEATH IS COVID19 RELATED

(cases that are confirmed COVID19, PUI, PUM) OR ANOTHER,
IF PATIENT DIES IN PRIVATE MEDICAL CENTERS, CLINICS,
HOSPITALS AND PRIVATE HEALTH CENTERS

1. Same procedure must be followed in Section 3, paragraph I, II, III

taking into consideration the proper handling and disposal of
remains as provided for by Department Order No. 2020-0067.
 2. Hospital protocols must be observed in the transportation of
remains to the funeral parlor.

3. Upon death of the patient the private health institution must

immediately report the matter to the barangay, thereafter the
barangay must issue the required certification.

4. Vehicles used in the disposal of the bodies must be disinfected

immediately.

CHAPTER IV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 5. Repeal. - All prior rules, regulations, guidelines or practices followed

before this order which are inconsistent herewith are hereby
repealed or deemed modified accordingly.
 
Section 6. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of these
rules is declared unconstitutional or contrary to law, the other parts
or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to
be in full force and effect.
 
Section 7. Effectivity. - These Executive order shall be effective immediately
and shall remain enforced indefinitely until sooner terminated after
consultation with the various departments and offices concerned.
 
Signed in the City of Mandaluyong, This ____ day of March 2020.

CARMELITA ABALOS
City Mayor