Crematoriums should not hike the prices amid the growing death toll due to the Covid-19 pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said.
“Ito namang may-ari ng crematorium, may I ask you to maintain ‘yung presyo ng cremation before and ante — ante quarantine,” Duterte said in a televised address to the nation on Thursday.
“Ibig sabihin ‘yung presyo na wala pa tayong problema, ‘yon ang ibigay ninyo. Nakikiusap ako. Tutal negosyo ‘yan e. Kumikita kayo ng pera na sinusunog ‘yung katawan,” he said.
According to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, local government units were mandated to designate funeral service facilities to handle the remains of patients who died due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Funeral homes refusing to serve coronavirus patients could face sanctions.
Duterte also issued new warning to hospitals that refuse to accept patients during the Covid-19 emergency.
“Nine hospitals who refused to accept patients. And therefore, we are calling — not after the Covid crisis — but I’ll be asking today the Department of Health to start the investigation,” the president said in his address.
“And I’m sorry but, you know, there are rules to be followed,” he said. “Kaya maghanap kayo ng paraan kung how to deal with the problem because you are a hospital,” he said. (PressONE.ph)