NEWS
BEFORE THE HEAT HITS AND THE DELUGE STARTS: WHAT A SUPER EL NIÑO DEMANDS FROM ALL OF US
PHILIPPINE INSURANCE SECTOR POSTS STEADY Q1 2026 GROWTH DRIVEN BY RISING ASSETS AND PREMIUMS
THE PHILIPPINE INSURANCE INDUSTRY ENTERED 2026 ON SOLID GROUND
THE Pacific is warming again, and the warning lights are already on. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has raised its El Niño alert, pegging the probability of onset between June and August 2026 at 79 percent, with European models flagging the possibility of a record-breaking “super” event that could stretch into 2027. The last strong El Niño in 2023 to 2024 cost Philippine agriculture roughly P57 billion. A super event would be worse, and the country must not be caught flatfooted.
The Philippine Insurance Industry reported a stable performance in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from Manila's Insurance Commission (IC), supported by continued growth in premiums, invested assets, and benefit payments.
Preliminary data from the Insurance Commission shows that in the first quarter alone, the industry paid out ₱43.44 billion in benefits to policyholders and beneficiaries — up from ₱39.01 billion in the same period last year. At the same time, more Filipinos are buying insurance: Total Premiums grew to ₱140.85 billion from ₱124.48 billion, and Insurance Penetration rose to 2.03% of GDP. Total Industry Assets now stand at ₱2.65 trillion.
June 4, 2026
May 22, 2026
May 21, 2026
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