Press Release
April 6, 2020

Without a clear protocol for COVID-related deaths
Nancy to IATF: 'Alalayan din natin yung mga nawalan ng mahal sa buhay'
...says families of victims need govt help too

"It may sound morbid, pero kailangan din i-address ng IATF yung mga hinaharap na problema ng mga pamilyang namatayan dahil sa COVID-19."

Senator Nancy Binay today said that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) should immediately address the lack of clear protocol in handling COVID-related fatalities, including cadaver management, storage, cremation and assistance to families.

She added that families of those who died from COVID-19 are having a hard time securing death certificates because some LGUs and barangay officials do not know what the protocols are if a patient dies inside his or her home, and how to properly handle the bodies which can no longer be accommodated in mortuary freezers and crematoriums.

"Sa ngayon pa lang, sana iresolba na natin ito. Ano ang pwede nating magawang ayuda sa mga pamilya? Paano kung walang-wala? Paano ang pambayad sa punerarya para sa cremation? Sino ang mag-aasikaso ng mga requirement? Paano na kung wala na gustong tumanggap na crematorium?" asked Binay.

The senator said because of the lack of clear guidelines from IATF, she has received reports that some private crematoriums are asking for P100,000 for the cremation of COVID-positive remains.

"Sa nangyayari sa buong mundo ngayon, it's never a good time to die. Malungkot at wala kang karamay. Di ka makapagpaalam man lang sa iyong mga mahal sa buhay. Wala kang last rites, or proper burial. Kaya nakakagalit yung meron kang mababalitaang mga nananamantala para pagkakitaan ang pamilyang namatayan," Binay said.

Under the DSWD Revised Guidelines on AICS for burial assistance, the department will shoulder part of the funeral cost and the family can receive up to P10,000 assistance even if they do not submit a case study report.

"Tugunan naman sana ng IATF ang pagbigay ng tuon sa isang worst case scenario para di tayo matulad sa Italy o US. Nakakalungkot kasi wala na ngang pagdadalamhati sa patay, wala pa rin bang kahit konting simpatya't malasakit doon sa mga nabubuhay?"

As of 2020, there are only 60 crematoriums operating nationwide, 90% of which are privately-owned, and 25 out of 60 are in Metro Manila. Only six are publicly-owned (Manila, Pasay, Mandaluyong, QC, Dasmarinas City and Antipolo City) and are mostly operated by the local government--but of the six, only five are operational which can only accommodate 3-5 cadavers a day.

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