ILOILO City – This southern city and the province of Iloilo are scouting for safe spaces to bury coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) casualties. Overwhelmed with cadavers for cremation, the only crematorium in Panay Island temporarily declined accepting pandemic fatalities.
The Gegato-Abecia Funeral Parlor and Crematorium in Barangay Balabago, Jaro district here temporarily stopped cremation services, according to San Enrique, Iloilo’s Mayor Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez, also the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Iloilo chapter.
Under the Department of Health’s (DOH) pandemic protocols on the handling of cadavers, the dead must be buried or cremated within 12 hours. With the unavailability of crematory services, immediate burial is the only option.
Fernandez, in an interview with Panay News, said the 43 local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo province are currently scouting for their respective safe burial sites.
“Kinahanglan may plan kita although wala man kita sang situation nga daw gamiton extensively ini kay ti we do not wish nga mag-rise ang deaths naton,” Fernandez said.
Yesterday, acting provincial administrator, Atty. Suzette Mamon, convened local chief executives and representatives from the DOH, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to discuss the matter.
During the meeting Fernandez raised one suggestion: Use public lands in mountainous areas as graveyards.
The situation is urgent, she said. “We can use public lands nga malayo sa pamalay kag sa mga tawo.”
To avert possible water contamination, Fernandez said, “We will also make sure nga wala water source or tuburan or bubon (sa burial site).”
As of August 2, Iloilo province had 434 total deaths due to COVID-19.
PROPER HANDLING
Dr. Ma. Socorro Colmenares- Quiñon, acting head of Iloilo’s Provincial Health Office, shared these guidelines on the proper handling of the remains of suspect, probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases:
* The procedures for burial and cremation shall be done within 12 hours after death. However, burial of remains should be in accordance with the person’s religion and culturally-acceptable norms, to the most possible extent (example in Islamic rites, cremation is forbidden or “haram”).
* The staff should practice hand hygiene, use of masks, gloves, goggles, and water-resistant gown/apron as standard precautions.
* Transportation shall be provided by the funeral home to the burial site.
* Large gathering at the crematorium/burial ground should be avoided.
For those that will be buried
a. Only adult members of the family of the deceased maybe permitted to attend the funeral.
b. Remains shall be placed in a durable, airtight and sealed metal casket. For patients with Islamic faith, as stated above, remains shall alternatively be placed in double cadaver bag with thickness of not less than 150 um.
c. Remains shall not be taken to any place of public assembly and viewing of the deceased shall not be permitted.
‘EXTRAORDINARY TIME’
“This extraordinary time needs extraordinary solution,” Fernandez stressed. “Siling ko hatagan na lang flexibility ang LGUs to decide what is best for us…Assess man namon together with our Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office and Municipal Health Office kon bala safe ang area.”
Pavia town had the highest number of fatalities at 34, followed by Oton (32), Santa Barbara (25), Barotac Nuevo (23), Passi City (20), Banate (19), Leganes (19), Pototan (19), Tigbauan (18), and Miag-ao (16).
In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Treñas has a similar concern and is eyeing a temporary solution – refrigerating cadavers in freezer vans while waiting for cremation.
“Lantawon ta kon ano ang maobra ta,” said Treñas.
Today, the mayor will have an emergency meeting with the city COVID team, City Environment and Natural Resources Office and DILG.
Between January and July this year, Iloilo City recorded 231 COVID-related deaths./PN