Death Services Simplification and Integration Act

Sellate Offire of the Erretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 AUG -4 P1:18 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No._ Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A UNIFIED SYSTEM FOR POST-DEATH SERVICES AND ESTATE PROCESSING, CREATING THE INTEGRATED DEATH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND THE DEATH MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE In the Philippines, the death of a loved one is always a profound emotional loss. But always not known to the ones grieving, it is also the start of a bureaucratic journey so complex that it robs many families of the time and space to properly grieve. The moment someone passes away, the burden falls squarely on the shoulders of the surviving family: to secure a death certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), apply for death benefits from the Social Security System (SSS) or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), obtain burial or cremation permits from the local government unit (LGU), file estate taxes with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and notify numerous other agencies. This multi-agency maze is confusing even for those familiar with the system-and nearly insurmountable for the poor, the elderly, or anyone without digital access. Too many Filipinos, especially in low-income households, spend the days following a death not in mourning, but in long queues, collecting documents, paying fees, and trying to figure out what must be done next. And because the system is disjointed and inaccessible, many necessary steps-such as paying estate taxes, documenting heirs, or transferring land titles-are missed or deferred indefinitely. The consequence of this inefficiency is of great national concern. Generations later, unresolved estates leave land titles in the name of deceased relatives, making it legally impossible to sell, develop, or donate property. Families become

mired in inheritance disputes. And when government attempts to build urgently needed infrastructure roads, railways, flood controls—it finds that the legal owners of the land are long gone, the heirs are undocumented, and the property is effectively frozen in limbo. This experience is a universal one. Every Filipino family, at some point, will face the death of a loved one and with it, the burden of navigating a system that was never built to help them through it. This bill seeks to change that. The Death Services Simplification and Integration Act proposes the establishment of the Integrated Death Management System (IDMS)—a digital, government-managed one-stop platform that automates and consolidates all post-death government transactions. With a single death registration, all concerned agencies are notified. Families will be guided step by step, with downloadable forms, status tracking, and tools for estate tax filing, burial permit applications, and benefit claims. To ensure accessibility for all, the bill mandates the creation of One-Stop Death Assistance Desks (OSDADs) in LGUs, distributes printed information kits in hospitals and clinics, and provides dedicated assistance for indigent and vulnerable families. By making the process humane, clear, and accessible, this bill helps Filipino families grieve with dignity, settle affairs promptly, and prevent the compounding of legal and land problems in the future. Over time, it will contribute to cleaner property records, better land governance, and faster infrastructure implementation-issues that, today, remain hampered by decades of unresolved estate matters. This reform speaks volumes of our compassion for our fellow Filipinos. More than anything, this gesture is about helping families move forward, and ensuring that in one of life's most difficult moments, government stands beside them lending aid and support. In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is sought. LOREN LEGARDA

Senate Office of the ectatp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) AUG -4 P1:18 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No._ Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A UNIFIED SYSTEM FOR POST-DEATH SERVICES AND ESTATE PROCESSING, CREATING THE INTEGRATED DEATH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND THE DEATH MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Death Services

2 Simplification and Integration Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to uphold the dignity

4 of every Filipino by ensuring that the handling of post-death affairs is timely, efficient, 5 humane, and responsive to the needs of bereaved families. The State shall adopt measures to streamline and integrate the processes related to death registration, 7 benefit claims, estate tax administration, burial permits, and other death-related 8 government transactions. Towards this end, the government shall institutionalize a 9 centralized and interoperable platform for such services and promote inter-agency 10 cooperation to eliminate redundancies and bureaucratic inefficiencies, while ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and accessibility for all, including vulnerable and indigent populations.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a) "Death-related services" refer to government transactions required following a person's death, including but not limited to death registration, burial and cremation permits, benefit and insurance claims,

estate tax processing, pension discontinuation, and related certifications; b) "Integrated Death Management System" or "IDMS" refers to the centralized digital platform that automates, integrates, and facilitates the processing of all post-death services; and c) "Death Management Council" or "DMC" refers to the inter-agency body created under this Act to formulate policies, promote agency collaboration, and oversee the implementation of the IDMS.

Sec. 4. Creation of the Integrated Death Management System (IDMS). - There

is hereby created the IDMS, a government-managed digital one-stop platform that shall: a) Enable a one-time registration of a death, which shall trigger automatic notification to all concerned agencies; b) Consolidate post-death services including death certificate issuance, benefit and insurance claims, burial and cremation permits, estate tax assessment and filing, pension cessation, and related estate guidance; c) Provide step-by-step guidance to bereaved families through user- friendly digital tools, including service checklists, automated status tracking, chatbot support, and downloadable forms; d) Facilitate secure data sharing, digital identity verification, and process integration among concerned government agencies, while minimizing the need for redundant submissions and personal appearances; and e) Include built-in features for identifying eligible users for indigent support and cross-cutting social welfare programs.

Sec. 5. Lead Implementing Agency. - The Department of Information and

Communications Technology (DICT) shall serve as the lead implementing agency and shall be responsible for: a) Developing, operating, maintaining, and continuously upgrading the IDMS; b) Ensuring interoperability, cybersecurity, and data privacy compliance across all agency interfaces and transactions conducted through the platform;

c) Setting technical standards, software and hardware specifications, and connectivity requirements for participating agencies and LGUs; and d) Coordinating with relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure system usability, accessibility, and citizen feedback integration.

Sec. 6. Creation of the Death Management Council (DMC). - There is hereby

6 created a Death Management Council (DMC), which shall provide oversight, policy 7 direction, and inter-agency coordination for the implementation of this Act. The DMC 8 shall be composed of the following: a) Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) - Chairperson; b) National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - Co-Chairperson; and c) Representatives, with a rank not lower than Assistant Secretary or equivalent, from the following agencies: 1) Social Security System (SSS); 2) Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); 3) Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); 4) Department of Health (DOH); 5) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 6) Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth); 7) Department of Justice (DOJ); 8) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); and 9) One (1) representative each from the League of Cities of the Philippines and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. The DMC shall meet regularly, issue policy directives, adopt implementing guidelines, and submit annual progress reports to Congress.

Sec. 7. Standardization and Simplification of Requirements. - All participating

agencies shall undertake the following actions: a) Harmonize and standardize their documentary requirements for death- related services; b) Adopt digital identity verification systems, data-sharing protocols, and inter-agency authentication mechanisms;

c) Transition to paperless and automated processing of transactions, to the extent practicable; d) Issue joint circulars that define uniform service standards, timelines, and client protection mechanisms; e) Provide downloadable, fillable, and electronically verifiable standard forms and templates, translated into Filipino and major regional languages; and f) Conduct regular process reviews to identify and eliminate unnecessary steps and outdated procedures.

Sec. 8. Online Estate Tax Services. - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

shall develop and implement a secure digital service through the IDMS for the end-to- end processing of estate tax obligations. This shall include: a) Online assessment, filing, and payment of estate taxes; b) Digital tools for estate valuation, tax computation, and submission of required documents; c) Downloadable and fillable forms, process guides, and automated case updates; and d) Step-by-step assistance to heirs for navigating estate settlement requirements. To ensure continuity from tax settlement to title transfer, the BIR shall coordinate with the Land Registration Authority (LRA) to streamline the transfer and registration of real property titles. Through the IDMS, heirs shall be guided on the procedural steps for title reconstitution, subdivision, or annotation, including documentary requirements, application routing, and registration timelines. Upon issuance of the electronic Certificate Authorizing Registration (eCAR), the BIR shall electronically transmit the eCAR and relevant supporting documents to the LRA and the concerned Register of Deeds (RD) for prompt and secure processing of land title updates. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall work with the LRA to establish secure, interoperable linkages between the IDMS and 31 the national land title registration system.

Sec. 9. LGU One-Stop Death Assistance Desks (OSDADS). - All cities and

2 municipalities shall establish One-Stop Death Assistance Desks (OSDADs) within their local Civil Registry Offices or designated service centers. These desks shall: a) Assist clients in accessing and navigating the IDMS platform; b) Serve as facilitators for LGU-issued burial, cremation, and transport permits; c) Provide guidance to bereaved families without digital access and offer referrals to relevant national or local agencies; d) Coordinate with local health offices, mortuary services, and funeral providers as necessary; and e) Deploy IDMS navigators to assist digitally vulnerable or low-literacy individuals.

Sec. 10. Duties of Hospitals, Medical Institutions, and Authorized Certifiers. -

All hospitals, medical centers, and licensed health facilities shall have the duty to assist families in navigating post-death procedures by: a) Distributing a standardized information kit to the deceased's next-of-kin upon death declaration or discharge, which would include: 1) A government-issued checklist of required death-related procedures; 2) Printed leaflets or flyers explaining how to use the Integrated Death Management System (IDMS) platform; and 3) Contact information of the nearest One-Stop Death Assistance Desk (OSDAD). b) Issuing a Medical Certificate of Death (MCOD) in a standardized digital format within forty-eight (48) hours of death pronouncement; and c) Submitting the MCOD electronically to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) through the IDS for purposes of death registration and cross- agency notification. The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Death Management Council (DMC), shall ensure the development, printing, and regular updating of the

1 information kits and oversee the integration of institutional death reporting into the IDMS. Licensed funeral homes, community health centers, and other authorized certifiers involved in the issuance of MCODs for home-based or non-hospital deaths 5 shall likewise be registered and accredited within the platform, subject to standards and procedures established by the DMC.

Sec. 11. Dedicated Death Services Website. - The DICT, in coordination with

8 the DMC, shall establish and maintain a dedicated government website on death- 9 related services, which shall: a) Serve as the official public portal of the IDMS; b) Provide updated step-by-step guides, agency directories, downloadable forms, frequently asked questions, and service timelines; c) Feature accessibility tools for persons with disabilities and translations in major regional languages; d) Host a feedback and grievance mechanism; e) Ensure full mobile and low-bandwidth optimization for access by users in geographically isolated or disadvantaged areas.

Sec. 12. Data Privacy and Security. - All activities under this Act shall strictly

19 comply with Republic Act No. 10173 or the "Data Privacy Act of 2012." The DICT and all participating agencies shall ensure that personal and sensitive information is collected, stored, processed, and shared only in accordance with applicable data privacy and cybersecurity laws and regulations.

Sec. 13. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Report to Congress. - The Death

Management Council shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing the implementation progress of this Act, including but not limited to: a) Number of death registrations processed through the IDMS; b) Volume and types of services rendered and completed through the platform; c) Time and cost reductions achieved through digital integration; d) User satisfaction ratings and stakeholder feedback; e) Challenges encountered and measures undertaken to address them.

The report shall include measurable indicators for performance monitoring and 2 policy recommendations. On the fifth year of implementation, the Council shall 3 commission an independent impact evaluation and submit its findings with 4 recommendations for supplemental legislation or system enhancements.

Sec. 14. Open Data and Transparency. - Subject to Data Privacy and applicable

laws, the DICT shall maintain an open data dashboard providing anonymized, aggregate data on the usage, coverage, and performance of the IDMS. Public access 8 to relevant reports, performance metrics, and process timelines shall be made 9 available in accordance with Republic Act No. 6713 or the "Code of Conduct and Ethical 10 Standards for Public Officials and Employees" and Republic Act No. 11032 or the "Ease 11 of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018." All non-personal and non-confidential documents, records, and data generated under this Act shall be made publicly accessible, subject to applicable laws on data privacy, national security, and privileged information.

Sec. 15. Funding. - The amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos

(P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as initial funding for the implementation of this Act. This amount shall be used for the development, rollout, administration, and maintenance of the Integrated Death Management System (IDMS), including but not limited to: a) Establishment and operation of One-Stop Death Assistance Desks (OSDADs); b) Development and management of the dedicated death services website; c) Production and translation of information kits and materials; d) Hiring and deployment of IDMS navigators and necessary administrative personnel; and e) Other operational and support services required to implement the provisions of this Act. This appropriation shall be charged against the available funds of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and participating agencies, and shall be released in accordance with existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.

Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation 2 of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

4 the effectivity of this Act, the Death Management Council (DMC) shall promulgate the 5 necessary implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to operationalize the provisions 6 of this Act. Provided, That the Implementing Rules and Regulations shall include a phased 8 rollout strategy prioritizing cities and municipalities with the highest volume of death 9 registrations, digital infrastructure readiness, or administrative capacity, as 10 determined by the Death Management Council. Pilot implementation shall be undertaken within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, covering selected areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The nationwide expansion 13 of the IDMS shall be implemented in successive phases within a period not exceeding three (3) years, subject to monitoring, evaluation, and readiness assessment.

Sec. 17. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or

unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,

19 administrative orders, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

22 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,