BURIAL POLICY REFORM FOR PUBLIC CEMETERIES

BURIAL POLICY REFORM FOR PUBLIC CEMETERIES

It seems there is no fairness in death, as there is none in life.

I am not even talking about the obvious gap between the rich who rest in air-conditioned mausoleums and the poor who are buried under the tropical sun. I am talking about something far more absurd — that the poor can be evicted from their graves after just five years, while the rich can rest in peace forever.

But wait — evicted? Isn’t that a term we usually apply to the living, like tenants who fail to pay rent? Apparently not. In many local government units (LGUs) across the Philippines, the dead, too, can be evicted if their families fail to pay a renewal fee after the so-called “free burial period” expires.

In public cemeteries, burial is often free — but only temporarily. After five years, relatives must pay a rental or extension fee, usually between ₱4,000 and ₱5,000. If they can’t afford it, their loved one’s remains are exhumed and transferred to an ossuary or, worse, discarded to make way for new burials.

I can’t help but ask: Why can’t the poor rest in peace, even in death?

The Price of Dying

The reality is grim — and expensive. The average burial cost in the Philippines (based on 2023–2025 data) ranges from ₱8,000 for the most basic service to ₱500,000 or more for premium packages in private memorial parks. A small cemetery lot in a provincial public cemetery can cost up to ₱100,000, while private lawn lots in Metro Manila can go for ₱600,000 or even higher.

Inflation, urban congestion, and lack of public land have turned dying into a luxury. Golden Haven Memorial Park in Las Piñas, for instance, sells lots for ₱375,000 to ₱825,000, depending on size. Compare that to public cemeteries, where “temporary” lots are reused every few years to make room for new burials.

Death, in other words, has become an issue of land economics — and, therefore, of justice.

The Policy Problem

This unfairness is not due to neglect alone; it’s also a result of policy gaps. Public cemeteries are managed by LGUs, each setting their own rules, fees, and tenure terms. There is no national policy guaranteeing perpetual burial rights for the poor.

In fairness, some LGUs have shown compassion. Malabon City offers free cremation services for residents, and Quezon City provides free public cemetery burials for up to five years. But after that, families must pay or relocate remains. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also provides limited burial assistance under the AICS program, but it’s not enough to cover ongoing fees or lot renewals.

The bottom line: no one agency truly owns the problem. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) oversees LGUs. The Department of Health (DOH) sets health protocols for burial. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regulates land use. But who ensures that the poor can rest permanently without eviction?

What Can Be Done

It’s time we talk seriously about Burial Policy Reform for Public Cemeteries. Here are some options worth considering:

  1. National Burial Tenure Law – Congress should pass a law guaranteeing a permanent resting place for indigent citizens buried in public cemeteries. Once interred, no one should be exhumed merely because of non-payment.

  2. Municipal Columbariums and Ossuaries – Instead of “eviction,” LGUs could build columbariums and communal ossuaries where remains can be respectfully relocated after decomposition. These can be vertical structures — space-saving and easier to maintain.

  3. Eco-friendly Burial Systems – As land becomes scarce, alternative solutions such as biodegradable urns, compostable coffins, and tree burials should be explored. This approach has already been adopted in Singapore and parts of Europe.

  4. Burial Cooperatives – LGUs can encourage communities to form burial cooperatives. Members contribute small amounts regularly to fund dignified, long-term resting spaces. Think of it as a “mutual aid” approach to death care.

  5. Circular Design in Death Care – Instead of building endless concrete tombs, the government can promote circular infrastructure — recyclable materials, green landscaping, and energy-efficient crematoriums.

  6. Coordination Between DTI, DA, and DENR – These agencies already cooperate on sustainability and livelihood. Why not coordinate on waste reduction, cemetery planning, and the reuse of biodegradable materials for urns and markers?

Lessons from Recent Reforms

The passage of the Philippine Islamic Burial Act (RA 12160) in 2025 is a good starting point. It recognizes cultural and religious burial customs — a big step toward more inclusive death governance. But fairness must also extend to the poor, regardless of faith.

Death should be treated not merely as a logistical or financial matter but as a human dignity issue. No one should be told their loved one must “vacate” a grave because the family could not afford to pay rent for the dead.

A Final Word

Perhaps the greatest irony in our burial system is this: the rich occupy land forever, while the poor borrow it for five years.

We often say “rest in peace,” but peace has become a privilege.

I believe every Filipino — rich or poor — deserves a final resting place that is permanent, dignified, and affordable. Reforming our burial policies is not just about managing space. It’s about restoring dignity, equality, and compassion — values that should endure beyond the grave.

So, to our lawmakers and LGU leaders: let the dead finally rest in peace. Permanently.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres

iseneres@yahoo.com, senseneres.blogspot.com 03-24-2026

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