Pasig gets provisional approval for crematory from DOH

The Department of Health on Monday gave the Pasig City government provisional authority to operate its newly-built crematorium inside its public cemetery.

According to a 24 Oras report by Mariz Umali, the DOH, together with some city officials, earlier inspected the crematorium as well as the city’s new centralized quarantine facility at Rizal High School.

Before the crematory was built, Pasig residents who succumbed to COVID-19 were cremated at the Evergreen Memorial Garden, which was shouldered by the city government.

“Medyo mahal pa rin po. Sabihin nating P35,000 per body so ito po mas makakatipid po talaga tayo kung ganito gagawin. ‘Yong sinasabing sa revenue code na P5,000 pero ‘pag COVID-related, sasagutin naman po ng city,” Mayor Vico Sotto said.

“Wala naman pong backlog sa bodies that need to be cremated pero siyempre gusto natin mas mapabilis,” Sotto added.

So far, the city government has already shouldered more than 200 cremations in the private crematory amounting to P7 million.

Meanwhile, the city government also converted two buildings at Rizal High School to centralized quarantine facilities for COVID-positive patients with mild symptoms and asymptomatic patients.

Sotto said they are also preparing two more buildings for persons under investigation in case they will be needed.

The facility has rooms, television, WiFi, free food, mobile shower, exercise area and psychosocial support.

“Gusto natin kumpleto, total package ‘yong health care system and network natin so ‘yong bubuksan natin na centralized quarantine facility, this will enable us to house all of our asymptomatic to mild cases para walang naka-home quarantine,” Sotto said.

“Ito nga po ‘yong danger na gusto nating iwasan para hindi sila nasa komunidad nila na akala nila okay sila tapos ‘yon pala, nakakahawa sila sa mga kapitbahay nila at sa mga pamilya nila. Dito po safe sila,” he added.

The DOH recommended some minor changes in the facility, but the Sotto said they are working on it.

Sotto said once the DOH approves the centralized quarantine facility, it will initially accept up to 30 patients.

So far, Pasig recorded a total of 409 cases of COVID-19, including 66 deaths and 126 recoveries. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News