MANILA, Philippines – Inaprubahan na sa ikalawang pagbasa sa Kamara ang panukala ni 5th District Representative Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco na payagan ang bawat pamilyang Filipino na magkaroon ng access sa abot-kaya at disenteng kabaong para sa mga pumanaw na mahal sa buhay.
“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,” sinabi ni Frasco sa kanyang sponsorship speech.
“Therein lies the great injustice that the State must correct, if it is to uphold its duty, to protect the human dignity that every Filipino is entitled to, in life and, in death,” dagdag pa niya.
Ang House Bill No. 102 o “An Act Providing for Funeral Services to Indigents, and Appropriating Funds Therefor” ay tatawaging “Affordable Funeral Service Act” sa oras na maisabatas.
Layon nito na “alleviate the burden carried by grieving Filipino families, especially those living in abject poverty.”
Sa ilalim ng panukala ni Frasco, oobligahin ang mga funeral home na gumawa na disenteng kabaong na ang halaga ay hindi lalampas ng P20,000.
“For this amount, the family of the deceased may avail of funeral services that include, among others, mortuary services, the provision of casket or coffin to hold the deceased, and other related services.”
Bibigyang mandato rin nito ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) na imonitor at magpataw ng regulasyon sa mga presyo ng funeral services, habang magbibigay naman ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ng funeral/burial o financial assistance sa mga kwalipikadong aplikante.
Sa kanyang sponsorship speech, sinabi ni Frasco na “the cost of dying in the Philippines exacerbate the situation of many Filipino families who are burdened with the unconscionable funeral expenses.”
Dahil dito, kailangan ng “legislative intervention to heed the cry of families grieving the death of a loved one while being driven to financial distress and even debt.” RNT/JGC
