Poor families rely on gov’t aid to bury dead kin

A “pauper’s burial” in Cebu City is not free but low-income families still have a government option for a decent funeral.

Burial assistance from the city government of Cebu includes P8,000 for a casket and up to P10,000 assistance for the family of the deceased.

In a public bidding, a mortuary quoted City Hall the lowest bid for their services at P7,800.

At this rate, “we offer the same services as our P10,000 package for residents in Cebu City,” said Alice D. Rebalde, manager of Eternal Memories Funeral Services.

This includes a plain wooden casket, embalming to last seven days, lights, a hearse during interment and processing of the Death Certificate.

The family has to provide a birth certificate, death certificate, and voter’s ID as proof that the deceased is a registered voter in Cebu City to avail of the aid.

However, the use of the private chapel is a separate cost: P800 a day for the non-aircon chapel and P1,200.00 per day for the cooler room.

To save on this, some families hold the vigil wake in the neighborhood capilla where the barangay captain can be persuaded to allow use for free.

Budget-tight families can still give their departed loved ones a decent funeral for P10,000 in Cebu City.

“If the cadaver is outside Cebu City, then there will be an additional charge for the hearse to transport it at P60 per kilometer,” she added.

The company also grants 20 percent discount for deceased senior citizens and 10 percent for Persons with Disabilities (PWD). Those who pay spot cash get a 5 percent discount.

The most expensive rate is P250,000 with an upgrade to a metal casket, viewing lights, and hearse during internment.

Promissory note

Those who unable to make full payment, are allowed to pay half of the amount and sign a promissory note.

“Actually we are only giving them 10 days extension after the interment but sometimes it takes a year or more for them to pay,” Rebalde added.

“Some run away if our collector visits their home. But some really pay their obligations.”

A 65-year-old widow, Soledad Tomold, of barangay Budlaan, was only able to cover half of the funeral cost of her husband who died last Dec. 8, 2012.

After her spouse was laid to rest, she paid a P 2,600 installment a year later, and then finished the last P2,000 in October this year.

“It was all right with the management that it took more than a year as long as our family completed payment,” Tomlod told Cebu Daily News.

Tomlod said the family applied for a pauper’s burial last August or months after her husband died, but were unable to use the money because the papers in City Hall were still being processed.

“We are just waiting for a call from the City Government,” Tomlod said.

Death certificate

If a person dies at home from natural causes, Eternal Memories will secure a death certificate from City Health Office for free.

Without a death certificate, no funeral home would embalm a cadaver.

A burial permit would cost P50.

However, if the person died because of an accident or from gun shot wounds, and needs an autopsy, a medical doctor has to issue a death certificate. To secure this, the company will collect P2,000.

In a hospital death, the hospital provides the death certificate.

St. Francis Funeral Homes has similar rates as Eternal Memories Funeral Services but don’t offer a pauper’s burial.