Definitions
- Board: Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).
- Chapel: Place for temporary laying of the deceased for viewing.
- Compatibility Use: Land uses that can exist harmoniously.
- Dominant Land Use: Pervasive land use within 500-meter radius.
- Embalming: Preparation, disinfection, and preservation of dead bodies.
- Embalming Establishment: Place for embalming human bodies.
- Embalmer: Licensed person performing embalming.
- Funeral Establishment: Includes funeral parlors, chapels, and similar places for preparation, storage, and care of the deceased; classified into Category I, II, and III depending on services and facilities.
- Funeral Services: Undertaking, embalming, transport, and burial or cremation.
- Morgue: Place for temporary keeping of dead bodies.
- Preparation Room: Dressing and cosmetizing of deceased.
- Rules: Implementing Rules and Regulations under discussion.
- Sanitary Permit: Certification issued by health officers ensuring compliance with sanitation standards.
- Undertaker: Licensed person handling care, transport, and disposal of bodies without embalming.
- Undertaking: Care, transport, and disposal without embalming.
- Viewing Room: Enclosed area for family viewing of remains.
Application Procedure for Locational Clearance
- Applies to use of land for funeral establishments.
- Applicant must submit:
- Vicinity map (scale 1:10,000) showing site and land uses within 500-meter radius.
- Site development plan (scale 1:200) indicating boundaries, layout, entrances, parking.
- Transfer Certificate of Title or equivalent documents with survey plan.
- Floor plan showing building areas.
- Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for Category I projects.
- Initial clearance from city or municipal health office.
- Inspection criteria includes conformity with land use plans, accessibility, flood proneness, and traffic considerations.
- Evaluation based on substantial conformance with applicable codes and sanitation laws (PD 825, PD 856).
Design Standards and Land Use Zoning
- Funeral establishment categories allowed in specific zones:
- Category I: C2 (Medium Density Commercial Zone).
- Categories II & III: GRZ, GCZ, C1, C2, GIZ, SIZ.
- Category II & III establishments must have contract with Category I for embalming.
- No funeral establishments in flood-prone areas.
- Minimum distances from certain land uses:
- 25 meters from food-related establishments.
- 50 meters from markets.
- 200 meters from abattoirs, schools, hospitals.
- Site accessibility must include road access and public transport.
Planning and Maintenance Requirements
- Use restricted to funeral purposes and flower shops maintaining the premises.
- Owner/operator responsible for maintenance.
- Easements for water courses and public utilities must be maintained per Forestry and Water Code.
- Setbacks and parking as per National Building Code.
Sanitary Permit and Compliance
- Operation requires a sanitary permit from city or municipal health office.
- Permit renewal required annually and must be posted conspicuously.
- Extensions or alterations also require new permit before operation.
Sanitary and Utility Requirements for Funeral Chapels
- Proper lighting, ventilation, and power supply with standby generator.
- Provision of sanitary facilities per health standards.
- Supply of potable water connected to approved sources.
- Food preparation areas must comply with sanitation codes.
- Approved sewage disposal systems required.
- Waste disposal requires separate receptacles for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
- Regular vermin control program mandatory.
Sanitary Requirements for Embalming and Dressing Rooms
- Constructed with concrete or semi-concrete materials.
- Minimum working area specified per remains.
- Floors impervious and sloped to drain to wastewater treatment separate from septic tank.
- Pathological and infectious wastes segregated with color-coded liners.
- Walls and ceilings smooth, dust-proof, washable.
- Adequate lighting and ventilation.
- Embalming tables of impervious materials.
- Use of personal protective equipment by embalmers and assistants is mandatory.
- Washing facilities and storage for protective equipment and chemicals provided.
Sanitary Requirements for Morgues
- Location either in funeral establishment or separate but maintaining strict privacy.
- Tank compartments sized for individual remains with drainage to wastewater treatment.
- Covered compartments with tight fitting lids.
- Lighting and ventilation standards including exhaust ducts.
Facility Requirements by Category
- Category I: Includes administration offices, chapels, family rooms, preparation and embalming rooms, garage, parking, and optional viewing room.
- Category II: Similar to Category I but without embalming room.
- Category III: Limited to casket display, business area, storage, garage, parking.
Minimum Area Specifications
- Minimum land area by category: 600m² for Category I, 420m² for Category II, 280m² for Category III.
- Specific area allocations for administration offices, embalming rooms, family rooms, chapels, garages, morgue.
- Comfort room facilities specified by number of users as per DOH standards.
Transitory Provisions for Non-conforming Establishments
- Owners of non-conforming funeral establishments must phase out or relocate within five years from the effectivity of these rules.
Monitoring and Inspections
- DOH and LGUs have the right of inspection and visitorial powers during reasonable hours on weekdays to monitor compliance.
Fees and Charges
- Locational clearance fees based on project cost:
- P1,000 for project cost up to P100,000.
- P1,000 plus 0.1% of excess cost over P100,000.
Penalties
- Violations subject to fines as provided in HLURB Resolution No. 622, series of 1998.
Effectivity
- Rules take effect after publication for two consecutive weeks in two general circulation newspapers.