A family of evacuees is facing two big challenges apart from the threat of Taal Volcano eruption.
The Baleros family now needs to come up with a staggering Php70,500 to pay for their father’s funeral who died during the volcano’s unrest.
In a report on Rappler.com, Jevelyn Baleros Ilagan said that their father Antonio Baleros died after they evacuated last weekend.
The 24-year-old daughter daughter said they were in a hurry in finding funeral parlor because they were all worried about the Taal Volcano’s imminent and hazardous explosion.
Jevelyn said that their father died shortly after they reached Bauan Technical High School, their evacuation center.
Antonio was a ‘panutsa’ vendor and was 51 years old. The family was able to find Filipinas Funeral Homes in Bauan to bury her father.
“Kahit masakit, ayun, pinagpasyahan na namin na kahit masakit, mas gugustuhin namin na ayos na siya sa kalagayan niya, kaysa ho iwanan namin siya na nandiyan na ‘di namin alam ang mangyayari,”
Jevelyn recalled.
The original bill was Php75,000. She said that the funeral parlor gave them a 10% discount but was later on charged for the funeral clothes amounting to Php3,000. The final bill then reached Php70,500.00.
“Hindi po mapakiusapan na mabawasan,” Jevelyn said. After asking other funeral parlors some of them quoted for as low as Php30,000 but they could no longer transfer because they have already used the services of Filipinas Funeral Homes.
The Baleros family received government assistance for the funeral: Bauan Mayor Ryan Dolor gave Php10,000, P10,000 from Taal Mayor Fulgencio Mercado, P5,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and P7,000 from other people, for a total of P32,000.
They were able to pay a partial payment of Php25,009 and Php7,000 will be used for their supplies.
Antonio was laid to rest last Friday. The family still owes the funeral Php45,500 after the three day wake.
