Families of deceased residents of the city of Manila would now be entitled to a funeral assistance from the local government.

City Ordinance 9019 signed by Mayor Honey Lacuna on Monday provides for the grant of the benefit worth PHP3,000.

Lacuna said the city government will allocate a substantial amount for the implementation of the ordinance under its Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).

The ordinance titled “Unang Abuloy ng Maynila-Death Benefits Ordinance of 2023”, filed by Councilor Salvador Philip Lacuna (6th District), aims to help lessen the burden on mourning families, at least by expediting the process of requesting for death benefits assistance from the different offices at the City Hall.

Under the ordinance, the councilor said the surviving legal spouse of the deceased will be the primary beneficiary of the benefit.

Should there be no surviving spouse of the deceased, the benefits shall be given to relatives under the following order –children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, aunts and uncles.

However, it must be established that the deceased was, at the time of death, a bonafide resident of the City of Manila and a duly registered voter of the city of Manila.

“For deceased minors under 18 years old, the parents should be registered voters and or residents of the City of Manila,” he added.

The mayor also thanked the Manila City Council headed by Vice Mayor and presiding officer Yul Servo for the unanimous and swift passage of the ordinance, which provides funeral assistance in the amount of at least PHP3,000 and or sympathy card or any token with an equivalent value of not more than PHP1,000 to qualified beneficiaries.

The requirements for a beneficiary to be able to claim the funeral assistance are duly filled-up claimants’ form issued by the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW); certified true copy of death certificate; duly notarized original copy of funeral contract; valid government-issued identification card of the relative/representative; valid government-issued identification card of the deceased, and barangay certificate of residency of the deceased.

The Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) would be the primary office in charge of the ordinance’s implementation, to be assisted by the Civil Registry Office.

The Liga ng mga Barangay and the Manila Barangay Bureau are also tasked to help in gathering pertinent data, such as reports of death and distribution of the death benefits. (PNA)