A new law guaranteeing free funeral services for impoverished Filipinos has taken effect after lapsing into law without the signature of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Republic Act No. 12309, or the Free Funeral Services Act, officially became law on September 28, according to a copy released on the Senate’s website. Under the 1987 Constitution, a bill that is neither signed nor vetoed by the President within 30 days automatically becomes law.
The measure aims to ensure that poor families can bury their loved ones with dignity. It institutionalizes the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) existing funeral assistance program under the Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation initiative.
Under the law, the government is mandated to shoulder the costs of funeral services for indigent families and those affected by calamities, disasters, or emergencies. Accredited funeral homes will handle these services and will be reimbursed by the concerned DSWD regional office.
The free funeral package will include the preparation of documents, embalming, burial or cremation, transport of remains, and the provision of a casket or urn.
Families seeking assistance must present a valid ID, a death certificate, a funeral contract, and a social case study prepared by a DSWD social worker.
Funeral establishments that refuse to provide free services face fines of up to ₱400,000 and the revocation of their business permits. Individuals found guilty of fraudulently availing of the program may face imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to ₱500,000.
