ILOILO City – Some families can’t afford cremation for loved ones who died of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Soon, such service may be made free for them.
According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, the city government and Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes Inc. & Crematory are set to sign a memorandum of agreement.
Treñas thanked the owners, couple Fely and Greg Abecia.
From P60,000 to P80,000, the cremation fee has been lowered to P25,000.
The Gegato-Abecia Crematory in Barangay Balabago, Jaro district is the pioneer crematorium in Panay Island. It has improved its facilities to cope with the rise in COVID death toll.
In previous months, the crematory was overwhelmed with COVID casualties.
Now, it has a new furnace which can process cadavers much faster (every 30 minutes) and safer (no need for the operator to handle the cadavers since there’s a conveyor).
The old machine could process up to seven bodies only.
The crematory also has a bigger and more combustion-efficient chimney.
“Medyo may kamahalan ang presyo pero ang importante ma-meet naton ang kasolbaran nga wala na ga-aso kag gabahu,” said Fely.
Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes & Crematory also purchased a freezer for cadavers waiting cremation.
As of Oct. 3, the COVID death toll Western Visayas reached 3,055./PN
