Pru Life UK launches critical illness protection plan for Filipino families

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A first in the market to cover up to four family members in one policy

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK launches PRUHealth FamLove, a protection plan that shares the critical illness coverage to up to four family members in one policy, a first-of-its-kind product in the market. This is available for all Filipino families, including same-sex or common-law partners, parents, and adoptive children.

PRUHealth FamLove is a yearly renewable protection plan that provides long-term coverage until age 85 (applicable when the premium is continuously paid), against high treatment and hospitalization costs due to critical illness.

According to a 2019 study by Mercer Marsh Benefits*, critical illness cost in the Philippines is the second most expensive in South East Asia. Lung cancer treatment costs can lead up to Php 2.78 million, stroke is for Php 1.8 million, while a heart attack is for Php 980,000**.

Having critical illness protection is important as costs including long-term medication and care, and even loss of income can be covered by the plan’s critical illness benefits through the System and Organ Function Insurance (SOFI) concept. This feature makes the product unique in the market as it provides coverage should any major organs require surgery, without the need to remember the long list of critical illnesses.

PRUHealth FamLove is flexible and easy to avail as it comes in different packages, with the option to choose how many family members will be covered from one (self) to

three – mySelf, myPartner, myChild, myFamily, myParent – depending on what suits the family’s protection needs.

“Pru Life UK celebrates and nurtures every Filipino family of different types and sizes with PRUHealth FamLove. This protection plan focuses on their ever-changing needs by offering critical illness protection to the whole family,” shared Pru Life UK President and Chief Executive Officer Eng Teng Wong.

“This innovation is a solid testament to our continuing commitment to promote financial inclusion by providing protection coverage to millions of underserved and unserved Filipinos to get the most out of life,” Wong added.

For more detailed information about PRUHealth FamLove, customers may visit the Pru Life UK website or book an appointment with a Pru Life UK insurance agent.

This is the latest product offering from Pru Life UK, ranked number one by the Insurance Commission in terms of New Business Annual Premium Equivalent in 2021.

References:
*8 Dec 2020. Philippines’ Healthcare Cost Inflation Projected to Hit 10.1% in 2020: Mercer Marsh Benefits Study. https://www.asean.mercer.com/newsroom/philippines-healthcare-cost-inflation-mmb-study.html
** Cost of Critical Illness in the Philippines. https://digitalpinas.com/cost-critical-illness-philippines/

About Pru Life UK
Established in 1996, Pru Life UK is the pioneer of insuravest, or investment-linked life insurance products, in the Philippines and is one of the first life insurance companies approved to distribute US dollar-denominated investment-linked life insurance policies in the country. Since its establishment, Pru Life UK has expanded its reach to over 190 branches in the Philippines, with the biggest life agency force of about 35,000 licensed agents.
The company ranked first (1st) among the country’s life insurers based on the Insurance Commission’s Full Year 2021 rankings in terms of new business annual premium equivalent. Pru Life UK is headquartered in Uptown Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Pru Life UK and Prudential plc are not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. (a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America), Prudential Assurance Company (a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom), Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company, Prudentialife Plans, Inc. or Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. (all Philippine-registered companies). Pru Life UK is a life insurance company and is not engaged in the business of selling pre-need plans.
For more information: www.prulifeuk.com.ph

About Pulse
Pulse is an all-in-one app that offers holistic health and wealth management solutions to consumers. Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Pulse serves as a health and wealth partner to users. It is designed to help people prevent, postpone, and protect against the onset of diseases, as well as make informed financial decisions to protect and grow their wealth.
Pulse is part of Prudential’s strategy to make healthcare and financial security more accessible to more people by leveraging digital technologies and best-in-class partnerships. Launched in Malaysia in August 2019, Pulse is active in 17 markets and 11 languages in Asia and Africa, and has been downloaded more than 32 million times (as at Dec 2021).
Pulse is currently available on the Apple/Google Play stores in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam in Asia, and Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia in Africa.
For more information, log on to www.wedopulse.com.

AXA Philippines and Preferred Global Health partnership.

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AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, recently inked a strategic partnership with Preferred Global Health, Ltd. (PGH), global patient organization based in Boston, USA . Through this agreement, AXA Philippines’ clients gain access to Preferred Consultation and Care, which includes expert advice for diagnosis verification and treatment plans from highly experienced Harvard-affiliated doctors from U.S. hospitals. When AXA Philippines clients seek treatment in the U.S., they will receive assistance from a personal care manager, who can help with doctor recommendations, appointment schedules, and more. Photo shows (center) AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora and PGH global director of care management services Andrew Sokolov with (left) AXA Philippines chief of retail proposition Alok Rungta and PGH Asia CEO Ramneet Walia.

Sun Life Presents life, health and wealth solutions for Financial Independence Month

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Here are the speakers for the Sun Life presentation Krie (CEO ans Founder of Messy Bessy), Sara Black and Lay Preacher Bo Sanchez talks about Life, Health and Wealth.

Filipinos are eager to prepare for the future, but are still tied to traditional ways of handling their finances.

This was revealed in a nationwide study of 1,200 respondents conducted by Kantar Milward Brown and commissioned by Sun Life Financial Philippines (“Sun Life”).

According to the study, 68% of Filipinos were concerned about saving for emergencies, 62% on securing their family’s future, and 57% on retirement. In order to address these priorities, 62% said they are managing their finances while 54% are spending only on things that are planned. Only 39% replied that they were investing their money in order to fund their goals.

Many pointed to their financial situation as a reason for not availing of life insurance or mutual fund products, where an average of 44% said that these products are considered as added expenses rather than tools to be financially secure. Moreover, it appears that lack of knowledge was also a factor, where 16% admitted they knew little about life insurance, 15% confessed to not knowing much about accident insurance, and 17% felt the same way about health insurance.

This prompted Sun Life to adopt the theme ”Life, Health, and Wealth” for its Financial Independence Month campaign this June.

”Life, health, and wealth are the essentials of a brighter future, but one can only achieve them if they save and invest for the future,” Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa said. ”This is possible with the right partner, tools, and products, and these are what we would like to highlight this Financial Independence Month.”

Life solutions

Among the initiatives under ”Life” is the Life Insurance Calculator, which would help one assess how much life insurance he would need to properly cover the needs of his loved ones, giving him a clearer goal to pursue. The digital tool can be accessed via bit.ly/SLlnsuranceCalc.

Meanwhile, SUN Smarter Life Classic is a protection plan that provides double life insurance coverage throughout one’s lifetime. Available in flexible premium payments, it also offers benefits that he can use in case of emergencies or immediate need for cash.

Sun Life is also set to team up with Waze to promote road safety in an initiative dubbed ”Brighter Drive, Brighter Life,” which will alert Waze users on accident-prone areas. This may also serve as a reminder for Waze users, who are also registered Lazada members, to insure themselves with a digital life insurance from Sun Life, such as Life Armor. It may be availed via the said online marketplace for as low as P100.

Health solutions

Under ”Health,” Sun Life endorses SUN Fit and Well, a new generation wellness plan that offers comprehensive life and health protection. It covers the whole health Journey from prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, offering comfort and peace of mlnd should a serious illness strike.

GoWell, Sun Life’s wellness community, has also expanded its tie-up with Fitness First to offer club benefits and preferential rates for Sun Life clients, advisors and employees.

Wealth solutions

Those eager to pursue their wealth goals can give the Investment Calculator 3 try at bit.ly/SL|nvestmentCalc to see how their money can grow over time using various financial instruments.
Once they are ready to start investing, they can opt to invest in the Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Funds from Sun Life Asset Management Inc. (SLAMCI). The first target date investment funds in the Philippines, these funds are designed to help investors achieve their goals on time with the minimum investment at only P1,000.

Should they wish to encourage their loved ones to start their own investing journey as well, they can give them a Sun Life Prosperity Card, 3 gift card which can be invested in any of Sun Life’s peso-denominated funds. It is available in P1,000 and P5,000 denominations.

In order to keep them on track as they pursue their life, health, and wealth goals, Sun Life also created Sun Future Planner, a comprehensive financial planning guide that would help one determine his life stage, analyze his needs, and take concrete steps to achieve his goals. The Sun Future Planner may be availed via a Sun Life advisor.

“We hope that Filipinos would utilize these solutions to create a more holistic and hardworking financial plan and serve more of his and his family‘s needs,” Lopa said. ”By saving, investing, and being more proactive in this pursuit, there is no doubt that they can look forward to a brighter future, and we aspire to be their partner for life in theirjourney towards financial freedom.”

For updates on Sun Life’s Financial Independence Month initiatives and for details on Sun Life’s products and digital tools, follow @SunLifePH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, visit sunlife.com.ph, or talk to a Sun Life advisor today.

ProtectNow.com: All the best insurance products at your fingertips

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ProtectNow.com is an online platform that will enable s to conveniently compare and select the most ideal insurance products from a comprehensive list provided by some f the country’s leading insurance companies.

“We are living in the best of times and in the worst of times with the confluence of technological advancements and natural disasters. With ProtectNow.com, Filipinos have the power to compare and personalize their insurance plan according to the covereage that they can afford and the insurance company that they prefer,” said Jonathan Batangan, PJLI Insurance Group head during the website’s launch at the New World Makai Hotel.

ProtectNow.com allows users to easily compare a full range of vehicle, home, travel and personnel accident insurance products, for free. Its search engine generates a list of products according to the user’s budget, needs, and preferences to ensure that each and every quote provided are personalized and tailor fitted.

The website also enables users to take full control of their policies with their own insurance dashboard. Here, they can monitor their policies and transactions and files and submit documents for insurance claims. It is also equipped with the a live chat and help desk feature to connect users to an insurance analyst in real time.

Payment of premiums via the website is convenient and hassle-free. Users can simply choose to pay through PayPal or any of Cebuana Lhuillier’s close to 2,500 branches nationwide.

Already, PJLI Insurance is hoping to expand ProtectNow.com to include more financial products and services categories, partner with more insurance comapanies, as well as offere microinsurance. The website will soon cater to a global market and for every insurance policy availed, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to OurHelp.com, an online platform provides insurance for free to those who cannot afford to pay for insurance coverage.

For more information, please visit www.protectnow.com or email at support@protectnow.com.

1CISP AMONG TOP 10 FASTEST GROWING COOP INSURERS IN THE WORLD

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The 1Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines (1CISP), the largest cooperative insurance organization in the country, is one of the 10 fastest-growing insurance cooperatives in the world, based on the prestigious International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation’s (ICMIF) 2018 rankings.

1CISP President and CEO Roy S. Miclat revealed this achievement during a press briefing held at the Romulo Cafe in Makati City last December 4.

Published last November 20, ICMIF’s Key Statistics Report surveyed its largest and fastest-growing members across product and regional lines, with 1CISP among the top performers, placing 8th for fastest-growing life insurers, and 17th overall for emerging markets, at a 23.8% premium growth from 2016-2017.

Out of ICMIF’s network comprised of 197 members worldwide, 1CISP is among only a handful of Asia-based members with growth stacking up against the international rankings.

“ICMIF is one of the industry benchmarks we hold ourselves to, as the only global representative body of the cooperative and mutual insurance sector,” Miclat shared. “And their 2018 report validates the sustained momentum 1CISP has achieved,” he added.

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Miclat also announced that 1CISP breached the 2-billion-peso mark in terms of total assets in the third quarter of the year. The insurance cooperative registered total assets of Php2.04 billion as of end-September 2018, a huge 50% growth from the Php1.36-billion asset level in the same period last year.
With this asset surge, 1CISP has outpaced the 18-20% overall growth of the local insurance industry, according to Miclat.

“1CISP, in comparison to corporate insurance counterparts, is growing at a remarkable rate, and believe it or not, this is not an isolated phenomenon in the country. It is a lot more common across the world than previously thought, with a precedent since 2007,” said Miclat, citing the ICMIF outline of industry trends.

Based on ICMIF analysis over a ten-year period (2007-2017), ICMIF members not only experienced exponential growth, but also outperformed the overall insurance industry average, including non-cooperative insurers. The Key Statistics Report outlines, “ICMIF members have grown at a significantly faster aggregate rate than the global insurance market as a whole. During this 10-year period, ICMIF members increased their collective premium volume by 39.3%, considerably greater than the total market average, which grew by a total of 16.8%.”

“These numbers speak for themselves and support 1CISP’s mission—a prosperous Philippines is a cooperative Philippines,” Miclat stressed. “While we take pride in reaching greater heights together with our peers in cooperative insurance, we are even happier that cooperatives are getting the credit they deserve,” he added. Miclat also gave an overview of 1CISP’s 2019 business forecast, projecting an upward trajectory in the wake of their 2-billion asset milestone. “Cooperatives have been succeeding away from the limelight all this time, but our time to shine is now. We want to show everyone that Philippine cooperatives are making their mark both here and on the world stage, as globally-competitive organizations,” he concluded.

This comes as 1CISP is injecting new vigor into the local cooperative movement through initiatives such as the 1Koop Leaders Academy, an upskilling training program for future cooperative leaders; and the Coop Kicks, a contest for young innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas on cooperative ventures. Launched at the 14th National Cooperative Summit in Davao City last October 3-5, these programs were officially kicked off, with 1CISP set to host in 2019 a tri-city HR Summit to modernize the cooperative enterprise, and a youth pitch fest, respectively.

1CISP is also sending a delegation to the biennial ICMIF Asia and Oceania Association (AOS) Seminar 2018 on December 6-7, in Hong Kong. Slated to speak and interact with the youth, Miclat, with other cooperative insurance heads, will lead the Morning Meeting by CEOs and Young Attendees.

Tackling the theme “Impact of Digital Innovation,” the AOS is a forum for exchanging invaluable insights, with 1CISP representing the Philippines as the champion for tech-adoption among coops and engaging the youth.

Pru Life UK introduces new yearly renewable term product

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British life insurer Pru Life UK, a subsidiary of international financial services group Prudential plc and the country’s pioneer of investment-linked life insurance, today launched another innovative solution, PRUlife your term, an affordable yearly renewable term insurance which is customizable to fit the protection and investment needs of customers.

“We are pleased to introduce PRUlife your term to the Filipino market. Pru Life UK aims to help address the widening protection gap in the Philippines through making life insurance affordable and more accessible to Filipinos,” said Pru Life UK President and Chief Executive Officer Antonio De Rosas. “With PRUlife your term’s flexibility, millennials and young professionals who are yet to have any insurance coverage can now also enjoy the benefits of a life insurance plan and at the same time choose to expand its scope with additional protection and investment benefits to meet their life’s goals.”

PRUlife your term is Pru Life UK’s most affordable product – for as low as PhP 8,000 per year, customers may enjoy a basic coverage of up to PhP 3 million.

Customers can make their PRUlife your term coverage more comprehensive through various supplementary benefits, including protection against the debilitating financial blow of an accidental death or disability, hospitalization and critical illness.

Moreover, as the only term product in the industry that can be upgraded with an investment rider, PRUlife your term has the potential to help customers expand their wealth and help them reach their financial goals. From the second policy year onwards, customers may also further upgrade their plans by converting to any of Pru Life UK’s wide array of insuravest or investment-linked life insurance, which combines lifetime protection with investment.

“With the 170-year legacy and reliability of our parent company Prudential plc as well as Pru Life UK’s expertise in securing the financial well-being of Filipinos, millennials and young professionals can be assured they can start their journey to financial freedom with us,” De Rosas emphasized.

To know about PRUlife your term and Pru Life UK’s suite of products and services, please visit www.prulifeuk.com.ph.

FWD Life Philippines launches Set for Tomorrow, financial protection for those you leave behind

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FWD Life Philippines, one of the country’s fastest-growing life insurers, has introduced a series of new protection plans that can be tailored to meet individual customer needs.

“FWD’s Set for Tomorrow will provide protection for the people we love and care about. The coverage amount and period can be customized to any personal situation and budget. Our aim is to make real and substantial protection accessible to everyone,” said FWD Life Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Grimes.

Dubbed Set for Tomorrow, the insurance product has three variants that address the different needs to take care of those left behind should the unexpected happen—Short Term Cover, Income Protector, and Estate Protector.

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“Set for Tomorrow caters to Filipinos from 18 to 70 years of age, from young urban professionals to retirees,” Peter added. “With very basic social security, many professionals have an enormous protection gap.”

Taking responsibility to protect those you love

In today’s uncertain world, FWD’s latest insurance product is there to protect the ones you love. Three common reasons that lead to financial problems for those left behind include:
 People have loans and accountabilities that are transferred to their family if they are no longer around.

 Raising a family requires time and money. Also, if the breadwinner falls away, the family will still need money to continue living a life with dignity.

 People who build up wealth worry about what they leave behind and especially how to best avoid a family crisis in settling estate taxes and dividing assets. As part of any estate planning solution, long-term insurance coverage is essential to evenly share the assets and ensure those left behind feel equally treated.

Solutions that provide guaranteed protection and give you peace of mind

FWD’s Set for Tomorrow has three variants that meet the needs of the modern Filipino. Short Term Cover is an affordable term life plan that provides guaranteed life insurance coverage for five or 10 years.
Income Protector ensures that your family can continue their life even if you are no longer around. Lastly, Estate Protector is a whole-life plan that provides guaranteed life insurance coverage until 120 years of age.

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FWD wants to guide people in fitting the right variant, protection amount, coverage period, and payment terms to the customer’s preferences and abilities. With this in mind, FWD launched online calculator “Cali”. By answering just a few questions, Cali allows you to determine the best solution for you and your budget. To find out the Set for Tomorrow plan that’s perfect for your budget and insurance needs, simply visit cali.ph/SetForTomorrow.

FWD’s Set for Tomorrow plans are now available through FWD Life’s Financial Wealth Planners. Interested customers may call the 24/7 FWD Customer Connect Hotline at (02) 888-8388 or chat with a Customer Connect Executive via FWD’s 24/7 Live Chat (www.fwd.com.ph) to set an appointment. The plans will also soon be available at all branches of Security Bank, FWD’s bancassurance partner.

About FWD Philippines

FWD Life Insurance Corporation (“FWD Life”) is the first life insurance company licensed by the Insurance Commission of the Philippines under the new Insurance Code. FWD launched its commercial operations in September 2014. By March 2017, FWD Life is the highest-capitalized life insurer in the Philippines with PhP 2.3 billion in paid-up capitalization.1 Based on premium income data published by the Insurance Commission2, FWD Life now ranks 10th in the insurance industry in terms of weighted new business premiums.

FWD Group spans Hong Kong & Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan, offering life and medical insurance, general insurance, and employee benefits across a number of its markets. Established in Asia in 2013, FWD is the insurance business arm of investment group, Pacific Century Group. In the Philippines, FWD has nine business hubs located in key cities nationwide with its headquarters in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences, with easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD aims to become a leading pan-Asian insurer that changes the way people feel about insurance.

For more information please visit fwd.com.ph.
1 www.insurance.gov.ph > Statistics > 2017 > Based on Paid-Up Capital
2 www.insurance.gov.ph > Statistics > 2017 > Based on Premium Income
3 Weighted New Business Premium Income: 100% of first-year premium on regular-pay plans + 10% of single-pay premiums

AXA launches new insurance product for today’s ambitious market

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Today’s young professionals are ambitious and often on-the-go. They work hard and at the same time want to pursue their own passions. As they focus on their careers, they want to maintain a work-life balance, and ensure that they are also preparing for their ultimate ambitions. Some would want to travel around the world, have their own business, or pursue a pricey hobby like golf or scuba diving.
Recognizing the need for investment and protection of today’s discerning consumers, AXA has launched MyAmbition, an affordable investment and life insurance plan that you can avail of online. Designed with your busy lifestyle in mind, the convenience of availing of an investment product with just a few clicks gives you an attractive option to help fulfill your ambitions in life.

MyAmbition can be availed of with a one-time investment that starts at only P50,000, a great opportunity to put that 13th month bonus or extra savings to better use. You can also invest up to a maximum of P125,000. The funds are professionally-managed by the AXA group to give you security and peace of mind.

MyAmbition gives you a range of options to suit your risk profile and financial goals. There’s an investment fund for conservative investors, a balanced fund for those who have a moderate appetite for risk, and an aggressive growth fund for those who want to maximize the potential of their investments.
Application is easy. Just visit www.axa.com.ph, and click on MyAmbition. You can assess your investment profile, pick an investment portfolio, and pay for the policy with your credit card. Debit card and other online payment options are also available.

“Our innovative digital solutions address the unique demands of digital natives. You can avail of MyAmbition through our e-commerce site. You can also download MyAXA, the mobile app that allows our clients to access policy information anytime, anywhere.” says Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines.

On top of these benefits and conveniences, MyAmbition gives you life insurance coverage of 125% of the single premium or the Account Value, whichever is higher. Should you choose to keep your funds longer, you can receive a Loyalty Bonus of 5% of the average account value to be paid on the 10th and 20th year.

“We understand the needs of today’s professionals. MyAmbition takes their lifestyle needs into consideration – it is affordable, available online, easy to purchase, can meet various investment considerations, and is payable via a credit card. MyAmbition’s combined offering of affordability, convenience, and flexibility will definitely help young and mature Filipino professionals achieve their financial goals and fulfill their ambitions,” adds AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer Amor Balagtas.

BPI-Philam Life Assurance Corp. launches Bancassurance Month Ayala Life FGU becomes BPI-Philam Life Makati

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BPI-Philam Life Assurance Corp., the largest bancassurance company in the Philippines, kicked off Bancassurance Month this October during the unveiling of the new BPI-Philam Life Makati Building (formerly Ayala-Life FGU).

The month-long celebration led by BPI-Philam Life Assurance Corp. (BPLAC) CEO Surenda Menon aims to educate Filipinos on the existence of bancassurance and importance of life insurance to help people with their long-term protection needs and to assist and support them throughout different stages of life’s journey.

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Mr Menon said: “Insurance penetration is still very low at around 2% based from the latest report of the Insurance Commission.1 We want to ensure that all Filipinos have access to the right protection solutions to provide adequate insurance coverage for their lifestyle requirements. We want to be able to provide insurance that is accessible and affordable to every market segment.”

“BPI-Philam continues to see strong potential for bancassurance given the continued rise of the middle-class, the continued economic growth brought by the high productivity in the country, and the increasing savings rate. These factors also present an opportunity to educate Filipinos on the importance of financial planning as a way to help them win during life’s key moments from marriage to parenthood, or from business management to retirement.

BPI-Philam’s trained Bancassurance Sales Executives (“BSEs”) are located at every one of BPI’s 800 branches to ensure that customers receive appropriate advice for every life stage.
BPI-Philam will also hold the Bancassurance Walk on October 5 where 200 employees will create awareness about bancassurance while walking along Ayala Avenue, Makati.

BPI-Philam is also launching iCare, the first policy owner after-sales servicing application in the Philippines. Policy owners can request changes to their policies be made electronically on a tablet device for unrivalled convenience. This follows the introduction of AIA’s highly successful interactive point of sale (iPoS) proprietary technology that improved the customer experience and promoted increased efficiency during the sales process.

Customers can find out more about Bancassurance Month through www.bpi-philam.com.

Cebuana Lhuillier Insures One Million Filipinos for National Pilipino Protektado Day

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 One million Filipinos officially joined the country’s rally to be a fully-insured nation as Cebuana Lhuillier—the Philippines’ leading microfinancial company—provides free microinsurance through its National Pilipino Protektado Day campaign.

Helping Filipinos be more disaster-resilient and prepared against various calamities, Cebuana Lhuillier has declared July 21 as the National Pilipino Protektado Day as part of the company’s advocacy to build disaster-resilient communities and help the Insurance Commission achieve its vision of protecting 80% of the Filipinos with microinsurance by 2020.

“For the past years, we’ve been constantly just introducing new and innovative products and services to the public to be able to help them be financially included. This time, with our National Pilipino Protektado Day campaign, we decided to take a bolder step and took the initiative to really touch ground with those who are most vulnerable to calamities and directly offer them free microinsurance as a new way for them to be secured,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier said.

In partnership with Pioneer Insurance and with the help of various public and private organizations, free microinsurance were given out across the Philippines, prioritizing the most vulnerable communities, families and individuals from the marginalized sector.

Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions General Manager Jonathan Batangan reiterates that National Pilipino Protektado Day is only one of the company’s many endeavors in its push for disaster resilience. “National Pilipino Protektado Day is a great milestone in our disaster preparedness campaign. But after insuring one million Filipinos, we are on to more initiatives that will help us promote microinsurance and foster disaster resiliency. We are introducing an app, a microinsurance organization, and later on, a website–all designed to ultimately promote the welfare of Filipinos,” he said.

Cebuana Alerto App Reinforcing its disaster resilience advocacy further, Cebuana Lhuillier has also officially launched Cebuana Alerto during the culminating event. An android app that harnesses the digital mobile platform, Cebuana Alerto is designed to provide real-time vital information about disasters within the Philippines.

Equipped with an interactive technology that allows users to share updates in areas affected by any disaster, the Cebuana Alerto app features an alert system that sends notifications to the user in the event of disasters such as typhoon, earthquake, fire, and flood. It has live newsfeeds that show the latest updates from third-party government agencies including the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDDRMC) for weather updates, the Department of Education (DEPED) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for school suspension announcements, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for information on traffic and road conditions. It also informs the users about Cebuana Lhuillier’s various insurance products and services which they can also purchase immediately online through the app.

Furthermore, the app also includes a “Safe Button” special feature that will automatically notify and send an “I AM SAFE” SMS message to the intended recipient about the user’s current state during a disaster.

MIAAPI

Simultaneously, Cebuana Lhuillier also led the formation of the Microinsurance Agents Association of the Philippines, Incorporated (MIAAPI)—an organization founded to promote the interests and welfare of microinsurance agents nationwide.

MIAAPI interim Board Members include ASEAN Insurance Council Head Michael Rellosa, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) RFPA Asia Senior Adviser Dante Portula, Pioneer Insurance VP Geric Laude, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Past President Enrique Abellana, Philippine Insurers Club Treasurer Edgardo David, RBAP Coordinator Gay Mapano, Eternal Plans SAVP Jumer Lecetivo, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Executive Trustee Atty. Cesar Vidal, and CLIS General Manager Jonathan Batangan.

Moreover, Cebuana Lhuillier is also set to launch an online platform for insurance donations called OurHelp later this year. Connecting donees in the Philippines and donors from all over the world through a dedicated website, this crowdfunding website further aims to provide quality insurance protection awarded to the most vulnerable sectors in the form of premium donation from socially aware enterprises.

Prior to the culmination of the National Pilipino Protektado Day, Cebuana Lhuillier kicked off its disaster resilience advocacy by mounting and leading the highly-commended “2016 READY: The Role of Microinsurance in Building Disaster Resilient Communities” forum last January. A series of roadshows in key cities such as Baguio, Cebu, and Davao immediately followed to cascade the Forum’s learnings. Simultaneously, Cebuana Lhuillier launched during the road shows the Alagang Cebuana Plus Gold or ACP Gold—an improved version of the company’s premiere microinsurance product that already includes a microlife component underwritten by PhilamLife. ACP to date has covered more than six million Filipinos.