AN ORDINANCE is being pushed that would give a 30% discount on memorial lots and compartment niches to persons with disabilities (PWD) and senior citizens.
Councilor Ragde Ibuyan, committee chair on government enterprise & privatization, said the legislation will help alleviate the burdens carried by the most vulnerable sectors of the city.
“This representation believes that a way forward is to offer a 30% discount to the leasing costs of the memorial lots or compartment niches for our PWDs and Senior Citizens who will be buried in our public cemeteries,” Ibuyan said.
He cited the high cost of lease on memorial lots or compartment niches in the city’s public cemeteries.
Citing the data provided by the councilor, the costs of lease of memorial lots and compartment niches in the public cemeteries range from P6,000 to P8,000 on a six-year lease contract, subject to renewal.
“Death, albeit an inevitable part of life, is nevertheless a tragedy for the bereaved family. A tragedy that does not need to be complicated further by financial obligations,” he stressed.
He recognized the national law under Republic Act 9994 and Republic Act 10754 for the Senior Citizens and PWDs, respectively, it has provided 20% discounts for funeral and burial expenses for these sectors, but the said discount does not extend to the cost of the memorial lot.
The proposed ordinance has the potential to lift some financial burden for these vulnerable sectors and their families, most especially in times of tragedy, he stressed.
The proposal was considered read in the first reading and referred to the appropriate committees.
At present, there are 14 private cemeteries and 10 public cemeteries managed and supervised by the City Economic Enterprise.
Photo courtesy of PWD Buhangin Chapter Facebook page
