Weeks before the country honors the departed during All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, a new law brings comfort and dignity to Filipino families who often struggle with the cost of saying goodbye to their loved ones.
Republic Act No. 12309, or the “Free Funeral Services Act,” has officially lapsed into law on September 28, ensuring that indigent and crisis-affected Filipinos will now receive free funeral services from the government.
The measure, originally filed as Senate Bill 2965, institutionalizes the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) funeral assistance initiative under its Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program—turning it into a permanent nationwide policy of compassion.
The main author of Senate Bill No. 2965 (Free Funeral Services Act) is Senator Imee R. Marcos, who sponsored the bill. Other authors and co-authors include Senators Grace Poe, Raffy T. Tulfo, Mark Villar, Joel Villanueva, and Christopher Lawrence T. Go.
A Helping Hand in Times of Loss
For many poor families, losing a loved one is more than an emotional tragedy; it’s a financial burden. Funeral costs, from caskets to cremation fees, can easily reach amounts beyond what an average family can afford.
The new law seeks to ease that burden by providing free funeral packages that include embalming, burial or cremation, transport of remains, and even a casket or urn. It also covers the preparation of documents needed for a proper and dignified burial.
Accredited funeral establishments will handle these services and will be paid by the DSWD through its regional offices, ensuring that families in crisis receive help without delay or discrimination.
Ensuring Fairness and Accountability
Beyond providing assistance, the law also emphasizes transparency and fairness. Funeral establishments that refuse to provide free services may face fines of up to P400,000 and possible revocation of their license to operate.
Likewise, anyone found to have fraudulently availed of the benefits will face imprisonment of up to six months and fines reaching P500,000.
Families seeking to avail of the program will simply need to present a valid ID, death certificate, funeral contract, and a social case study prepared by a DSWD social worker to confirm their eligibility.
Compassion as a National Policy
RA 12309 is more than just a social welfare measure—it’s a statement of compassion. By recognizing that every Filipino deserves dignity in death, the government affirms that care should not end with life itself.
As Filipinos prepare to visit their loved ones’ graves this All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, this new law stands as a quiet but powerful reminder: no family should face the pain of loss alone or in poverty.
Even in the final moments of farewell, every Filipino deserves respect, compassion, and dignity.
