The Senate approved on the third reading, Senate Bill No. 2965, or An Act Granting Free Funeral Services To Poor Families, during the resumption of the Senate session.
In Senator Mark Villar’s manifestation, he expressed his gratitude towards the approval of the law, stressing the long-standing need to make funeral services accessible to financially struggling Filipinos.
“I join my colleagues in their effort to make funeral services more accessible for our fellow Filipinos who struggle to make ends meet.”
“I stand here to express my gratitude for the approval of the Free Funeral Services Act. I join my colleagues in their effort to make funeral services more accessible for our fellow Filipinos who struggle to make ends meet,” Villar highlighted.
The newly approved measure mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to shoulder the costs of the funeral services of indigent families.
The legislator underscored that the availment of funeral services is costly and adds burden to Filipinos who struggle to meet their daily needs.
“Malaking halaga na po ito para sa ating mga kababayan na nasa laylayan.”
“Malaking halaga na po ito para sa ating mga kababayan na nasa laylayan. Ito po ay dagdag isipin para sa mga kababayan nating kapos at namatayan. Kasabay ng pagkawala ng kanilang mahal sa buhay, kailangan pa po nilang isipin ang gastos para sa lamay at libing,” the lawmaker added.
The senator firmly believes that the saddening reality that indigent families need to solicit for financial assistance in order to have a decent funeral service for their loved ones needs to be addressed institutionally.
“Dito po sa Senado, marami na po tayong natatanggap na requests para sa funeral and burial assistance. This reality is a sign that it needs to be addressed institutionally. I believe that it is long overdue that vital services like funeral services should become accessible, especially to the poor and indigent,” he stressed.
As a co-author of the Free Funeral Services Act, Villar maintains that there should be a continued motion towards making essential services like funeral services accessible to all Filipinos.
