MORE QC MEMORIAL HOMES JOIN FUNERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Quezon City has sealed an agreement with nine funeral homes for the provision of burial and funeral assistance to underprivileged city residents, especially in the third district.

An amount of P2.15 million to be taken from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Congressman Jorge “Bolet” Banal Jr. will be used to bankroll the implementation of the funeral assistance program, which further reaffirms the city’s continuing commitment to lessen the financial burden of its poor residents brought during moments of grief.

Mayor Herbert Bautista joined Congressman Banal in sealing the agreement with the representatives of the nine participating funeral parlors, which include Wyn, St. Mark de San Juan, Tajuna, Bonita, Loyola Memorial, St. Peter Life Plan, Inc., St. James Memorial, St. Ignatius, and Santiago Funeral.

As provided under the agreement, program beneficiaries are entitled to a funeral assistance not exceeding P3,000.

However, under the program, no cash assistance shall be extended. Only certificates of guarantee issued by the QC social services development department shall be accepted by the participating funeral homes.

District III has a population of 308,114 based in the 2009 census, the lowest among QC’s four districts. While it is home to some of QC’s richest barangays (in terms of real property tax share) such as Ugong Norte, Bagumbayan and Socorro, District III also has a big number of urban poor communities such as Barangays Escopa and Old Balara.

Earlier, Mayor Bautista also renewed the implementation of the city’s “Murang Palibing” program to provide economic relief to underprivileged city residents in their moments of grief.

The Mayor sealed an agreement with members of the QC Mortuary Association, Inc. to implement the program, which was described “as a gesture of the city’s genuine concern for the poor.”

Under the agreement, association members shall provide funeral services amounting to P6,500 for adults and P3,500 for children, including provisions for casket, retrieval of body from place of death (natural death), five-day embalming and use of funeral hearse for internment (Monday to Friday only).

QC Resolution No. SP-2801, S-2005 authorizes Mayor Bautista to enter into an agreement with owners of city-based mortuaries for the implementation of the “Murang Palibing” program.

As provided for under both agreements, the city government, through the social services and development department headed by Teresa Mariano, shall oversee the identification of qualified indigent residents who shall benefit from the program. Precy/ Ej/ Maureen Quiñones, PAISO