LGUs should make sure COVID-19 deaths are cremated or buried : Año

April 14, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said local government units (LGUs) should ensure that  remains of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases in their areas are cremated or buried within 12 hours after their death.

Año urged all cities and municipalities to designate reputable funeral parlors and crematoriums to handle such remains.

“The remains of persons who died of communicable diseases such as COVID-19 are potentially infectious and standard precautions should be implemented for every case. That’s why local governments should assure there are designated funeral parlors and crematorium  in their areas  handling COVID-19 patients who died,” he said.

Año said while cremation is preferred this cannot apply to Muslims because it is against their religion.

“Hence, all remains of our Muslim brothers cannot be cremated but must be buried in the nearest Muslim cemetery within 12 hours from death,” he said.

In places where there are no crematoriums, standard burial process within 12 hours should apply, he said.

Año issued the statement after receiving reports  some LGUs refused entry to cadavers of COVID-19 cases for burial or cremation  as well as LGUs with identified Muslim cemetery which restricts burial of a Muslim who died as a suspect or a confirmed COVID-19 case.

“No LGU shall prohibit the cremation or burial of COVID-19 cadavers in a cemetery or memorial park located in his or her area of jurisdiction,” he said.

Año urged LGUs to provide possible financial assistance to cover the logistics, fuel, salary and other expenses incurred.

He said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has set aside P25,000 for each indigent bereaved family of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“The cost of burial or cremation of a dead person shall be borne by the nearest kin. If the family is not financially capable of defraying the expenses or if the deceased had no kin, the cost shall be borne by the city or municipal government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),” he said.

Año said LGUs may put a price cap or impose a price ceiling on funeral services located within their jurisdiction to prevent over pricing.

He added any crematorium service or funeral parlor who will refuse to accept cadavers would be closed permanently through cancelling its business permit.

“LGUs shall monitor and penalize funeral parlors and crematoriums that refuse to provide logistics and transport of suspect or confirmed COVID-19 remains, including refusal to pick-up the remains,” he said.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government  Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said funeral services staff and personnel may also be considered among  frontliners amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Funeral workers are also risking their safety in order to provide proper burial or cremation of the dead. They must also be accorded the same safety measures as health workers,” said Malaya, spokesperson of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

He said funeral workers are granted exemptions from the imposed enhanced community quarantine to ensure that remains of deceased individuals will be given proper funeral services.

“The LGUs are enjoined to ensure funeral companies are to provide transportation and/or housing accommodations for funeral service staff and that all personnel handling the body are required to wear  appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing their tasks," he said.

"All PPEs shall be properly disposed of, preferably burned for disposable and properly disinfected for non-disposable, after its use,” Malaya added in accordance with Memorandum Circular 2020-063.  Ella Dionisio/DMS