By Argyll Geducos President Duterte said the government has been monitoring crematoriums to avoid a build-up of bodies up for cremation. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) In his 13th report to Congress, Duterte said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducts daily monitoring of Metro Manila probable, suspect, or confirmed COVID 19 cases including deaths and cremation status in coordination with local government units (LGUs), hospitals, and crematoriums. The MMDA has reported that out of the 29 private mortuaries and crematoriums in Metro Manila, 25 establishments offer crematorium services. According to the President, the MMDA has a list of privately-owned funeral homes/crematoriums which handle the remains of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases. "To avoid overcapacity of morgues in Metro Manila, the MMDA continuously assists in expediting the processing of COVID-19 cadavers to make sure there is no build-up of bodies for cremation," Duterte said. So far, the Philippines has recorded 30,682 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 8,143 recoveries and 1,177 deaths. In April, President Duterte has asked crematoriums to keep the pre-quarantine rates of its services. “Ito namang may-ari ng crematorium, may I ask you to maintain yung presyo ng cremation before quarantine. Yun ang ibigay ninyo. Nakikiusap ako, (To the owners of crematoriums, may I ask you to maintain the price of cremation before the quarantine. That would be your contribution. I’m asking you)," he had said. LGUs have been tasked to designate funeral service facilities to handle the remains of patients who passed away due COVID-19. The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said that funeral homes that refuse to service the remains of COVID-19 patients will be penalized.