Insurance workers protest GSIS proposal
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:16:00 07/25/2008
MANILA, Philippines – More than 3,000 agents and employees of insurance companies picketed Thursday the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Quezon City to protest a plan giving the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) control of the vehicle insurance system in the country.
The Bukluran ng mga Manggagawang Umaasa sa Industriya ng Seguro (BMIS) and Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (Pira) called for the resignation of GSIS president Winston Garcia and LTO chief Alberto Suansing.
Malou Pilar, BMIS-Pasay chapter spokesperson, claimed Garcia’s plan would displace more than 60,000 workers and deprive more than one million Filipinos, who benefit from the CTPL insurance industry, of their livelihood.
Garcia claimed the government was losing some P2 billion a year from fake CTPL policies.
He also alleged a cartel of nine non-life insurance firms monopolized the CTPL business.
Wearing white T-shirts printed with the words “No to GSIS-DOTC Monopoly,” the protesters accused Garcia and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza of collusion to monopolize the issuance of Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL) insurance policies to vehicle owners.
The mid-morning rally that ended at noon snarled traffic along East Avenue in Barangay Pinyahan.
But motorists affected by the slowdown blew their horns to show support for the protesters.
“Ganid talaga yang si Garcia,” a driver of a passenger jeepney shouted.
Protesters said the plan of the GSIS, a state-run pension fund, was unconstitutional as it would legalize the monopoly of the multi-billion CTPL insurance industry.
They appealed to President Macapagal-Arroyo to help resolve the issue and stop the GSIS from taking over the CTPL business.
“The President said during her last Sona (State of the Nation Address) that she wanted to provide jobs for poor Filipinos like us. But, in reality, her government is doing the opposite,” said Pilar.
She added: “The plan of GSIS to monopolize the issuance of CTPL will definitely kill poor workers like us. It’s an anti-people policy.”
The LTO requires a CTPL insurance policy before an owner can register his vehicle to ensure there are funds to cover damages resulting from the use of the vehicle.
Under the present system, motorists can choose from any non-life insurance company offering a CTPL policy.
Garcia said the GSIS-proposed system would ensure that motorists would not get bogus insurance policies.
Pira officials denied Garcia’s allegations, saying reforms implemented by insurance companies and the LTO made it impossible for anybody to falsify CTPL policies.
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