Short on Cash for Funeral? Try the Rental Casket in Zamboanga City

Nowadays, dying is as costly as living itself so to help the less fortunate save on funeral, a Rent-a-coffin” program was launched in poor villages in Zamboanga City.

"Barangay chief Abe Tan explained that they bought two metal caskets as well as lights and curtains using government funds which their constituents can rent for only PHP7,000 to PHP10,000," reports RJ Rosalado on ABS-CBNnews.com.

Tan said their constituents can save up to more than 50 percent compared if they purchase a metal casket in the market. An ordinary casket made of good lumber is inserted inside the metal casket. The metal casket will be removed during the interment.

The barangay of Sta. Maria is located north of this city with a population of 25,000 with roughly 50% of the residents are poor.

Tan said a funeral parlor Rent-a-Coffin Enterprises set up in Barangay Sta. Maria that offer a P7,000 package that includes embalming, interment, ordinary coffin and a metal casket and the use of the funeral car.”

According to Bulatlat article, nowadays, a middle class burial would cost anywhere from P50,000 up to more than P100,000 with all  the rituals for dead in the Philippine culture. Families of the rich and famous of course spend more with grand funeral services accentuated by bronze or copper caskets and posh burial grounds – all reaching to as high as P300,000 up to half a million. Forget about preparing a middle class burial then – but you will still need at least P15,000 just to buy a decent coffin and a secure burial site.[Cost of Dying]

Sources : Mindanews / ABS-CBN / Bulatlat
Photo : Everplans