Poor Filipinos to Avail Free Funeral Services
Burial services are now free for poor Filipinos after the enactment of Republic Act No. 12309, also known as the Free Funeral Services Act.
Poor Filipino families will no longer have to worry about funeral expenses as the Republic Act No. 12309, also known as the Free Funeral Services Act, has officially become law. This new measure aims to ease the financial burden of grieving families, especially those living in poverty or being affected by disasters.
Under the law, families considered “in crisis situations,” including indigent households and disaster victims, can now avail of free funeral services with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The government will shoulder all expenses related to the burial process from the preparation of documents, embalming, cremation, or inurnment to the casket or urn itself.
Before this law was passed, the DSWD only provided financial assistance ranging from P5,000 to P50,000 under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. The new law ensures that even those without means can give their loved ones a dignified farewell without having to worry about the cost.
To avail of the free funeral service, families must submit a death certificate, a valid ID, a funeral contract, and a social case study report from a licensed social worker. The DSWD will directly pay accredited funeral homes to prevent families from handling the financial process themselves.
However, the law also sets penalties for anyone attempting to falsify documents or abuse the program. Offenders may face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to P500,000.
The government hopes to bring comfort to poor families during one of life’s most difficult times to prove that compassion and dignity should never depend on one’s financial status.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the new law:
