MANILA, Philippines — Sumingil umano ng mula P45,000 hanggang P 75,000 ang mga punerarya sa pamilya ng mga namatay sa COVID -19 para sa cremation ng labi ng mga ito sa gitna na rin ng public health crisis sa bansa.
Ito ang ibinulgar kahapon nina House Deputy Minority Leader at Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate at Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares base sa impormasyong nakarating sa kanilang tanggapan.
Nais ng dalawang solon na imbestigahan ng pamahalaan ang overpricing sa cremation ng mga nasawi sa COVID- 19 na kinasasangkutan ng mga funeral parlors at maging ng mga hospital sa overpricing sa cremation service.
Kasabay nito, hinikayat ng mga ito ang pamahalaan na bayaran ang cremation services ng COVID victims bilang bahagi ng serbisyo publiko ng pamahalaan lalo na sa mahihirap na pamilya sa gitna na rin ng krisis.
“There have been reports that cremation services for the fatalities of COVID virus have inordinately gone up during the crisis. Cremation was priced at less than Php 18,000 before the crisis but now it has reportedly gone up to Php 45,000 and even up to Php 75,000”, giit ng mga ito.
“More importantly, we ask government to shoulder the expenses for cremation of all fatalities of the COVID virus. This is not just about the delivery of public service but also a social health issue. Government cannot allow fatalities to rot in morgues just because their kin cannot afford cremation as this also constitute a threat to public health”, ani Colmenares.
Sinabi naman ni Zarate na may sapat na pondo ang gobyerno upang tugunan ang krisis .
“All it needs is government efficiency in allocating and releasing these funds, as well as the political will to let go of lump sum pork barrel projects and spend these on the needs of the people,’ dagdag pa ni Zarate.