Cremation Practices in the Philippines
Some Filipinos prefer to put the ashes of their departed loved ones in urns and keep these at home or scatter the ashes to the favorite place of the deceased. Cremation facilities are required to have the necessary equipment and procedures in place to stop the release of pollutants. Despite the lift, the Catholic Church strongly discouraged the public to keep their cremated remains of their dearly departed at home. In 2020, Bishop Roderick Pabillo made it clear that cremains should be rested on sacred places such as columbarium. This is in line with the 2016 affirmation of the Vatican that Catholics could be cremated but must not have their ashes scattered or kept at home.
Regulations and Guidelines for Cremated Remains in the Philippines
Both national and local rules govern how cremated remains may be scattered in the Philippines. It is an offense to exhume any human remains or cremated remains without first obtaining the necessary permission. A license must be obtained from the Ministry of Justice. However, the cost of the license fee is unspecified. Here is a list of some of the most popular and often utilized crematoriums in the country, including their cremation prices in the Philippines.
Cremation Process Details
Homes that face west, south, north, or northwest should have urns placed in a room in the north or south area of the home. Cremated remains are not considered health risks and may either be stored in a columbarium, scattered in various locations, or kept in an urn in the house of the surviving family. The cremation process costs approximately Php 25,000, with optional niches costing between Php 35,000 to 50,000.
Both national and local rules govern how cremated remains may be scattered in the Philippines. Cremation facilities are required to have the necessary equipment and procedures in place to stop the release of pollutants. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 specifically prohibits the dumping of any waste, including human remains, into bodies of water.
(8) “Cremation interment container” means a rigid outer container used for the ground burial of cremated remains that meets a cemetery’s specifications. (9) “Crematory” means a structure containing a retort used or intended to be used for the cremation of human remains.
The average cost for basic cremation is PHP 60,000.00, including the cost of a casket, the cremation process, and urn.
Additional Information
What is the Philippine law about cremated remains?
Anyone have any information on the procedures for bringing cremated remains from US to PI?