Free funeral services for QC cops, firemen

The Quezon City government and La Funeraria Paz Inc. have forged an agreement granting special memorial service packages for its policemen, firemen and barangay security development officers killed in the line of duty.

The memorandum of agreement signed at the QC Hall Bulwagan covers all frontline city workers killed while in the performance of lawful discharge of their official functions

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who led city officials during the signing and Jose Gonzales, president of Funeraria Paz described the scheme as instrumental in easing the financial burden of surviving family members who will be shouldering the high cost of funeral services.

"Ngayon hindi na magmumukhang kawawa ang mga taong ito kapag namatay. Hindi na kailangan mag-intindi pa ang kani-kanilang mga naulilang pamilya kung saan kukuha ng perang ibabayad sa serbisyo ng mga punerarya," Belmonte said.

The special memorial service package includes the retrieval of remains from the place of death; body preparation to include embalming for five days, bathing, clothing and application of cosmetics; provision of wooden casket; use of viewing chapels; use of viewing paraphernalia and equipment in case the viewing is done at home, church or temple; documentation of the necessary interment, cremation and transfer permits and use of the vehicles from retrieval of remains to conveyance of the deceased from the viewing place to interment site.

Other extra services requested by the family shall be charged to the account of the requesting party and shall be subject to the standard service charges being observed by La Funeraria Paz.

The provision of the special memorial service package shall be limited within Metro Manila for a period of five days, covering 10 members per year for each service department.

Witnessing the agreement signing were Central Police District director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan, Quezon City Fire Marshall Maj. Oscar Villegas, QC Liga ng mga Barangay president Xyrus Lanot, Councilors Elizabeth Delarmente, Ariel Inton, Bernadette Herrera, Bong Liban, Bolet and Ramon Medalla, social services development department chief Teresa Mariano and city legal officer Christian Valencia.