By Chito Chavez The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday has compelled the local government units (LGUs) to guarantee that the remains of confirmed and suspected novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in their localities are cremated or buried within 12 hours after the death. DILG secretary Eduardo Año instructed the concerned local chief executives (LCE) to designate reputable funeral parlors and crematoriums that will handle the remains. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN) “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,’’ Año said. Año also pointed out that while cremation is preferred, “the same cannot apply to our Muslim brothers 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 added. In places where there are no crematoriums, Año said the standard burial process within 12 hours should apply. Año issued the statement after receiving reports that some LGUs had refused the entry in their localities of COVID-19 cadavers for burial or cremation purposes. In other cases, some LGUs with Muslim cemeteries restrict the burial of Muslims suspected or confirmed to have died of COVID-19. “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,” Año said. Año also urged the LGUs to provide possible financial assistance to cover the logistics, fuel, salary, and other expenses that will be incurred in the process, which include transfer or transport of human remains. “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 noted. Año explained that 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 DSWD. The DILG chief noted the LGUs may issue a price cap or impose a price ceiling on funeral services located within their jurisdiction to prevent over pricing. He warned that any crematorium service or funeral parlor that refuses to accept cadavers would be closed permanently. Their business permits will be cancelled. “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,” Año noted. Funeral workers are frontliners too DILG undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya said that funeral services staff and personnel may also be considered among the 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,” Malaya said. He said that funeral workers are granted exemptions from the imposed enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to enable them to move freely and travel to ensure that the remains of deceased individuals are 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 dead body are required to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing their tasks. All PPEs shall be properly disposed of, burned if disposable and properly disinfected if non-disposable, after its use,” Malaya concluded.