Despite the difficulties brought by the surge in insurance claims and limited mobility due to the pandemic, member companies of the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA) were still able to help in various forms the thousands of Filipino families affected by recent typhoons.
PIRA Executive Director Michael Rellosa said these companies readily responded to the needs of those displaced by typhoons Rolly, Ulysses, and Quinta that ravaged many parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila in the last two months of 2020.
Leading these companies were the two mutual insurers, namely 1Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines and General Insurance (1CISP) and CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative and (1CISP), shelling out at least P1.65 million and P1 million in cash and relief goods to the typhoon victims.
The 1CISP partnered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and the Philippine Navy to bring relief goods to families in Marikina, San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal who were displaced by flooding from typhoon Ulysses.
It also gave cash assistance to Caritas Manila, the Office of the Vice President, and cooperatives and communities in Marikina, Catanduanes and Isabela.
CLIMBS, for its part, responded to the needs of close to hundreds of cooperatives affected by the typhoons through its CLIMBS Community Action Response to Emergency Services (CARES)
Other PIRA member companies were equally as generous and ready to provide help to our countrymen.
The UCPB General Insurance Company. Inc. (COCOGEN) employees donated close to P300,000 for victims of typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. They chose the Bicol region as beneficiary, extending help first to the employees of their Legazpi and Naga branches, and then providing relief goods to 200 families in six barangays in Albay.
The Malayan Insurance Corporation, through the Alfonso Yuchengco Foundation and the Yuchengco Group of Companies, distributed relief goods to 1,000 families in Cainta, Rizal, and 400 families in Rodriguez, Rizal, who were displaced by the flooding from typhoon Ulysses.
After this, Malayan extended food, and hygiene kits to 3,000 families in at least 12 barangays in Enrile, Baggao, and Alcala, Cagayan that were also displaced by the flooding. It also donated medicines to groups of doctors that conducted medical missions in these areas. On top of these, the company is looking at proposed rehabilitation efforts for families in Catanduanes whose houses were destroyed by the typhoons.
Pacific Union, meanwhile, donated relief goods amounting to 215,000, benefitting 4,000 families in Marikina, Daraitan in Rizal and in Tuguegarao.
Stronghold Insurance provided 5,000 hygiene kits containing face masks, alcohol, and bath soaps to residents of 5 barangays in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Cagayan. Aside from these, the company provided relief food packs to 2,000 families in Isabela.
FPG Insurance, meanwhile, donated Christmas gift baskets to 50 families in Tondo, Manila that were displaced by the typhoons. It also donated pet grooming and care supplies and vitamins to Animal Kingdom Foundation for 70 to 100 dogs affected by flooding in San Mateo, Rizal. The company followed this up by donating school supplies and toys to children residing in railway tracks through the Smile For A Reason group. It is now working to provide gifts to 500 more families in Rizal province in time for the holidays.
Pacific Cross Insurance distributed food and hygiene kits to families in Marikina whose homes have been deeply submerged in flood yet were not getting help from donors due to their inaccessible location. The company reached the said families in coordination with a local Christian fellowship.
Employees of Philippines First Insurance Company, meanwhile, donated relief goods to the typhoon victims. The company is now looking to donate construction materials to those whose homes were destroyed by the typhoons.
For Sterling Insurance, the company and its employees provided relief goods to 1,500 families in Kasiglahan Village, San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal.
Travelers Insurance and Surety Corporation conducted a gift-giving activity focused on children in typhoon ravaged areas to cheer them up in time for Christmas. The company engaged its different branches and service offices across the country for this activity.
Meanwhile, the owners and officers of Western Guaranty Corporation donated cash and relief goods to affected communities, preferring to do it in private. The company, however, expressed willingness to support PIRA in any charitable activity that the industry might want to pursue.
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