Deputy Speaker Vincent Franco Frasco
THE House of Representatives on Monday approved on second reading House Bill 10422, which seeks to enhance the country’s disaster risk reduction and management system and thereby amend Republic Act 10121, or the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.”
Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez is one of the primary authors of the measure, along with House Committee on Disaster Resilience chairperson and Dinagat Islands Rep. Alan 1 Ecleo and House Committee on Appropriations chairperson and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co.
The bill seeks to establish financial resilience programs in all cities, municipalities, and barangays to ensure communities have the necessary resources to recover after calamities. It also streamlines fund releases, including utilization, accounting and auditing processes to expedite fund disbursement during calamities.
To bolster the country’s infrastructure readiness during disasters, the bill also proposes the designation of the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as the vice chairperson for infrastructure resilience.
The House also approved with amendments HB 102 or the proposed “Affordable Casket Act,” authored by Deputy Speaker Vincent Franco Frasco on second reading.
In his sponsorship speech, Frasco recounted numerous instances during his tenure as mayor of Liloan, Cebu, where bereaved indigent families went into debt or sought government assistance to provide their deceased loved ones with a dignified funeral.
HB 102 mandates that all funeral establishments shall offer funeral services to indigent families at a price not exceeding P20,000.
This amount would cover essential services, including mortuary services, provision of a casket and other related services.
The bill mandates the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor and regulate funeral prices, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is tasked with providing financial assistance and strengthening partnerships with funeral establishments.
Deputy Speaker Yasser Alonto Balindong presided over Monday’s plenary session.
