The municipality of Bakun, Benguet will soon honor its deceased public school teachers by presenting the Philippine national flag during their wake or funeral.
In an ordinance, the municipal council will award the flag to retired public school teachers or were still in service when they died.
“The public school teachers are among the most hardworking public servants who contribute selflessly to the education and rearing of our children,” the ordinance stated.
The teachers shall include the early child care development workers or public nursery school teachers who are residents of the municipality.
To be issued a flag, the next of kin or the school head will submit to the municipality the certificate of employment of the deceased teacher signed by the school head or public district supervisor. For child development workers, the kin shall present a certificate of employment signed by the punong barangay.
The family shall be issued one flag with a case and in standard size made of cotton.
The flag may be handed over to the relatives of the deceased at the funeral by the municipal officials led by the mayor, in their absence the vice mayor, or the highest ranking municipal council member present.
To fund the ordinance, an amount of P20,000 shall be allocated from the annual budget.
The ordinance was based on the Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines where the national flag may be used to cover the caskets of the honored dead of the military, veterans or previous wars, national artists, and of civilians who have rendered distinguished service to the nation, as determined by the local government unit concerned.
“In such cases, the flag shall be placed such that the white triangle shall be at the head and the blue portion shall cover the right side of the caskets. The flag shall not be lowered to the grave or allowed to touch the ground, but shall be folded solemnly and handed over to the heirs of the deceased,” RA 8491 stated.
The ordinance was given favorable review by the Benguet provincial board. – Ofelia C. Empian
