By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Fifty-two poorest of the poor here have availed of the free funeral services given by the city government since the initiative started in June.

The project is one of the social services for the city’s indigents implemented under Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog.

Unlike before, dead family members only receive a free coffin, but, now, they can also avail of other burial services through a P5,000-worth of funeral package, Mabilog said.

The mayor said the project is the city government’s way of helping indigent families who may not have the resources to properly bury their dead.

Barangay City Secretariat officer-in-charge Catalina Sanico said the funeral package includes free coffin, embalming, funeral car and lights.

The burial services are sponsored by Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes that won the bidding for the P500,000 project.

Sanico said those who want to avail of the free funeral package need only to present death certificate, and certifications from the village chief and the City Social Welfare and Development Office that the family is indeed indigent.