The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 and the Regional Inter-Agency Task Group (RITG XII) have given directives for all its Local Government Units to fast-track their Memorandum of Agreements with funeral parlors and crematoriums.
This was articulated in a joint resolution no.2020-003 entitled “A resolution enjoining all LGUs to fast-track the forging of MOA with funeral parlors and crematoriums”. Under Resolution No. 10 of the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID), local government units (LGUs) must designate funeral service facilities to handle the remains of the confirmed Covid-19 case and patients under investigation. The general guidelines mandate that bodies of COVID-19 positive patients or PUIs should be placed in an airtight sealed bag and to be cremated or buried within 12 hours from the time of death.
For Muslim victims who succumb to Covid-19, the remains must be placed in an airtight sealed bag with the presence of an Imam who will do the traditional rites. The body must be buried immediately within 12 hours in the nearest Muslim cemetery.
Department of the Interior and Local Government XII Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III said this intervention is to ensure that LGUs have clear policies and protocols with regards to the safe handling of COVID-19 positive and Persons under Investigation (PUI) remains.
Furthermore, this will also help ease the pain of grieving families should their loved ones succumb to COVID-19.
“There is a pressing need for LGUs to fast-track the MOAs with their local funeral parlors or nearby crematoriums and put, in detail, the procedure in properly handling these cadavers as we also have to ensure the safety of our frontline workers in the LGUs,” she said in a statement.
“It is already heartbreaking to lose a family member, and not being able to give a proper farewell or provide proper funeral service that their loved ones deserve will be more devastating for them. With the burial protocols in place, we can help ease the worry of the families with loved ones who perish due to COVID-19,” she further stated.
Region XII has one confirmed COVID-19 death from the Province of Sultan Kudarat, according to the recent bulletin of the Department of Health SOCCSKSARGEN Region last April 7, 2020.
The RIATF is enjoining all LGUs to coordinate with LGU-General Santos City and LGU-Kidapawan City “should the families of the dead COVID-19 patient or PUI will opt for a cremation”.
National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Department of Health, and Bureau of Fire protection will be requested by RIATF to conduct face-to-face orientation to funeral workers in handling COVID-19 positive and Persons under Investigation (PUI) remains.
