Cemetery workers in Cebu City warned: Stop under-the-table transactions
The Pardo public cemetery during All Souls and All Saints Day. | file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak warned cemetery workers to stop under-the-table transactions with bereaved families to rack up the price of burial slots or else the city will be going after them.
Tumulak told CDN Digital that his office received reports that some cemeteries offer slots to bereaved families only for those willing to pay an “extra price.”
Allegedly this practice is perpetuated by cemetery workers looking for extra cash or essentially abusing the lack of burial space of the city.
“Naay ubang funeral homes nga nakigconive sa mga cementery workers kung dunay mangamatay to look for a vacant space. Paggawas sa normal payment sa church, maningil pa gyod silag lain without the knowledge sa cemetery,” said Tumulak.
Tumulak said bereaved families have to pay P2,000 to P5,000 more than usual just to get their deceased loved ones buried, or these cemeteries would say there is no more slot left.
The city government sent warnings to all cemeteries to stop these unscrupulous transactions and only charge families the fair price for the burial slots.
Consequently, the city government has imposed restrictions on burial to ensure that these types of abuses are minimized.
Starting this week, Tumulak said all bereaved families will have to be assigned a burial spot by the City Health Department (CHD) Cadaver Section.
The burial permit will be released during the application for a Death Certificate which ensures that each deceased individual will be allotted a burial space.
If the family opts for a private cemetery, this will also be noted.
Tumulak said this way the families will no longer worry about having to pay beyond the actual price of the burial slots.
“Di na gyod na mahitabog balik kay moagi naman tanan sa City Health,” said the councilor.
For families who may experience such abuse in the future, Tumulak encouraged them to report the incident to his office immediately so the city government can make the proper interventions.
Tumulak appealed to cemeteries not to take advantage of the current situation in the city and be considerate to those who are pained by the loss of a loved one. /rcg
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