Steve Hung-Lam Yim, Associate Professor at NTU’s Asian School of the Environment and Principal Investigator at EOS, shares the status of air quality in the Philippines and its health implications

Prudential plc, Pru Life UKs parent company, has released the first findings from a two-year research project that examines the current state of global air quality and its health implications across 10 countries and cities, including the Philippines.

A partnership between Prudentials ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) unit and the Earth Observatory Singapore (EOS) of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the research project called Climate Impacts Initiative” assesses the air quality in Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Côte dIvoire, Nigeria, Kenya, and the Philippines in support of Prudentials advocacy to examine the intersection of climate change and health. The study aims to provide useful references for policy formulation among governments covered in the study. 

The first phase of the research involves reviewing historical records of air quality and health impacts, analysing trends of air quality, and estimating health impacts of exposure to the air pollutants in the studied countries and cities in the recent two decades while the second phase entails projecting future air quality and its health impact on individuals that consider several emission scenarios. 

This follows Pru Life UKs 2021 independent study that looked at how climate change affects Filipinos health, well-being, and financial security. 

The Prudential EOS Climate Impacts Initiative white paper is a powerful reminder of the need to minimise the effects of air pollution. Everything we do today will help secure a healthier future for generations to come, shares Steve Hung-Lam Yim Ph.D, Associate Professor at the NTUs Asian School of the Environment and Principal Investigator at EOS.

The first phase of the study revealed that in the Philippines, air pollution is worse in northern Manila, mainly due to vehicle emissions. Other sources include mobile sources, power plants and industrial plants.

Apart from the apparent environmental risks of worsening air pollution, the paper also cited negative health implications. Long term exposure to air pollution can cause severe respiratory diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and premature disease. 

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reported that the Philippines is one of the ten nations with the most air pollution-related mortality, with 64,000 deaths in 2019 and a predicted rise in the following years.

In the Philippines, there is a clear upward trend in air pollution-related diseases and deaths, adds Yim.

From 2000 to 2020, the premature death rate due to air pollution in Southeast Asia increased by 33%. 

For a country as environmentally vulnerable as the Philippines, it is important to raise awareness about the repercussions of air pollution and climate change to the environment and peoples health. This makes climate change a public health issue and we at Pru Life UK believe that financial security is a climate adaption measure. We remain committed to fostering meaningful conversations to drive positive change in this arena, says Atty. Emeren Vallente, Pru Life UK SVP and Chief ESG, Legal and Government Relations Officer.

To know more about Pru Life UK's work on climate change and health and other ESG initiatives, visit www.prulifeuk.com.ph

Across Southeast Asia, some 71 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are driving the region’s economic recovery. These organizations also comprise almost all businesses across the region. While they form the backbone of the region’s economy, MSMEs are often the ones who are vulnerable to adverse macroeconomic conditions and unexpected events such as fire, accidents, and damages.

With this in mind, regional insurtech Igloo, in partnership with GCash and Malayan, launched NegosyoCare, an insurance product specifically designed to protect MSMEs. Igloo believes that insurance products catered to MSMEs can support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and employment for the country and Filipinos.

“99.5% percent of all businesses in the Philippines are considered MSMEs. These sari-sari stores, carinderias, and water refilling stations, while small, greatly contribute to their communities and are essential to the growth of the economy. These businesses that make up nearly 40% of the GDP typically run on limited cash flow and limited financing and are most at risk from unforeseen events that disrupt operations," said Mario Berta, Igloo’s Country Manager for the Philippines. 

“We are delighted to have been able to work with Malayan on NegosyoCare to support MSMEs by offering them an affordable yet comprehensive insurance product that will enable them to continue to grow and thrive without having to worry if their businesses are protected when something unexpected happens,” he added.

Available via GCash’s GInsure marketplace, NegosyoCare premiums begin at P160 for one month coverage and up to P525 for one year coverage. 

NegosyoCare provides coverage for accidental deaths, total permanent disability due to accident, and disablement or dismemberment due to accident for up to P50,000. Benefits also include medical reimbursement for accidents for up to P5,000, fire cash assistance for P10,000 and coverage for burglary and housebreaking for P10,000.

Importance of microinsurance for MSMEs

The Philippines is one of the countries where insurance penetration remains very low at 2% due to the relatively low financial literacy rate and insurance premiums regarded as being expensive.

A recent report by the Philippine Insurance Commission showed that microinsurance premiums–both production and contributions–grew by 15.5% in the fourth quarter of 2022. The growth was attributed to “the increasing awareness of the public of the importance of having affordable insurance products.”

“Offering microinsurance options is important because it provides MSMEs an affordable way to protect themselves and their businesses. The Philippines may score low on insurance penetration but they are scoring higher in microinsurance penetration–showing that if they have products that will cater to their needs and will not overburden them financially, they will consider it,” Mario explained. “It’s not only important to have affordable insurance products, people should also be able to easily access them. This is why our partnership with GCash is important: MSMEs will be able to protect their businesses for as low as P160 a month.” 

NegosyoCare is another addition to the growing line of Igloo products currently available in the GCash Insure marketplace. In 2021, the Igloo and GCash partnership launched the first Online Shopping Insurance in the market followed by Mobile Insurance products, Pet Insurance in 2022 and the GCash Travel Master with COVID-19 in January 2023.

Being the first Filipino to win the Ms. World crown, Megan Young has license to lead an ultra-glam life, but people will actually be surprised to know that she is “matipid.” In fact, she and husband Mikael “Fofo” Daez has a finance system in place where they have two bank accounts—one for expenses and one for savings. 

“I plan it out with my husband kung ano yung gusto ko, trips I wanna go on, K-pop merch na I wanna buy or new experiences na we both wanna try,” says Megan in her latest Instagram video post about living a vibrant life. That means sticking to the budget despite the “wants”. “If I know I can’t afford [the designer bag], bakit ko bibilhin?”

Megan Young inspires everyone to live a happy, healthy, and vibrant life with FWD Life Insurance.  

For Megan, planning your finances is one way to stay happy, healthy and vibrant because “you can enjoy and have peace of mind.” Why would you overcomplicate your life with unnecessary spends that’s not part of the budget?

Aside from being matipid and taking care of your finances, the actress and TV host on GMA’s The Best Ka! also included nutrition, exercise, self-care, and relaxing via traveling in her tips to lead a vibrant life in her video collaboration with FWD Life Insurance.

Megan Young puts great focus on living a healthy lifestyle.

Nutrition and physical fitness

While the rest of the world do no-carb diets, Megan considers a meal incomplete without bread or rice and dessert! (Hallelujah!). For her, we should not be depriving ourselves with the food we want to eat. “I love having carbs, carbs, carbs! And also meat and dessert. We want to make sure we treat our bodies well. We can eat 80% healthy food and 20% kung anong gusto nating kainin.” 

Rather than focusing on diets, people should focus on creating a healthy lifestyle.  A diet puts her in a mindset that she needs to eat less, which should not be the case. It all comes down to moderation. Plus, exercise. (The secret to her smashing body, perhaps?)

That’s why even if she finds it hard—often second guessing herself like the rest of us why she is even doing it—she always makes sure she works out. 

Financial planning 

When you want to experience more out of life, she says, plan accordingly. (For additional health and financial tips, check out FWD’s blog). And she did not mean just the luxuries and the “wants”. 

Plans should also include the things that are important to you and your family like your health and your future coz we can never really be sure of what can happen. “Health protection…kailangan na ring i-budget ‘yan dahil mataas na rin ngayon ang medical expenses so we make sure that we have insurance para less worries.”

And it’s important that all bases are covered. A product like FWD Vibrant Critical Illness Insurance does that, protecting you from wellness to treatment to recovery. You’re covered from before you get a health problem up to when you get diagnosed and all the way to your treatment and recovery. 

Quite impressed, Megan enumerates every benefit you’ll get from it. “With FWD Vibrant, you can get cash for health screening so that you can monitor your health; you’ll also receive cash for medicines to support your recovery in case you get sick; and for your peace of mind, you can claim up to 6x for major critical illnesses; and on top of that, you get minor critical illness coverage worth 25% of the benefit amount. So, you can focus more on your health and celebrate living!”

Megan Young on why protecting your health and finances is key to living a happy, healthy, and vibrant life.

Travel 

While planning is very important, there are times when we just need to let go and enjoy and appreciate life. As Megan advises: “Pause and take a breather!”

Taking trips abroad is when Megan gets to do this. This is the time when she and her husband can just relax and go with the flow. In her trips for instance, Megan likes to go to places that lets her get out of her comfort zone. There was even a time when they just went on a trip in Japan with no prior plans beyond the airport. After all, where they go and where they stay while abroad are not half as important as how they enjoy it. “Enjoy your time with your family and loved ones. Or even if you’re going solo, just pause and enjoy the view.” 

But don’t get her wrong. For Megan, planning is essential and is the precursor to living a vibrant life. Knowing you’re all covered—your health, finance, your family’s needs—gives you the freedom to just enjoy and let go. “We save up and take care of our health para ma-enjoy talaga namin these things. To do that, we always make sure that we work out and take care of our finances.” 

How about you? What are your secrets? Here’s a tip: start doing it! In the words of Megan, “we all deserve to be happy, healthy, and vibrant!”

Want to live a happy, healthy, and vibrant life like Megan? Set up a meeting with an FWD financial advisor to know more about FWD Vibrant and start planning for your health and finances. 

Singapore-based insurtech company Gigacover recently announced a milestone partnership with Spanish insurer MAPFRE Insurance to improve 360 protection for Filipino individuals and businesses. Following increased reports of challenged platform workers in transportation and logistics, Gigacover’s collaboration with the global insurance provider also underscores the need to improve coverage for underserved delivery riders. 

FWD Life Insurance Philippines (FWD PH) achieves its highest membership growth at 164% in the 2022 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), putting it in this year’s top three of the MDRT Top 10 Companies in the Philippines.

FWD Group also climbed four places from last year, ranking sixth in the MDRT Top 10 Multinational Companies rankings.

The MDRT is a global independent association recognized as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services industries. The association requires members to serve customers by exemplary performance and the highest standards of ethics, knowledge, service, and productivity.

“We’ve been nurturing next-generation financial advisors and leaders who are committed to revolutionizing the industry with innovations to protect more Filipinos. The highest MDRT membership growth recognizes our commitment in providing best-in-class customer experience,” said Li Hao Zhuang, FWD PH President and CEO. He adds that while FWD is growing, it continues to strive to offer the best agency career path in the insurance industry, leveraging technology and intensive training.

Jun Marasigan, FWD PH Chief Agency Officer, affirms that FWD wants to sustain a growth trend in its MDRT membership by strengthening its MDRT culture. “We encourage our financial advisors to be part of the top 1% of MDRT members across the world. Join the FWD team and we’ll assist you to be MDRT members too.  We’re looking to attracting and grooming top financial advisors in line with a standard of excellence that supports our vision of changing the way people feel about insurance,” Jun claims.

Globally, only a small number of life insurance and financial services professionals meet MDRT’s membership criteria. In the Philippines, FWD’s Elite Agency Strategic Initiatives contributed to the development of financial advisors and financial solutions consultants by giving them professional training in the MDRT culture, including Elite Learning, Elite Digital, Elite Affiliates, and Elite Coach – all designed to help expand market reach and enhance overall customer experience.

To talk to an FWD financial advisor or find out how to become an FWD financial advisor, visit fwd.com.ph/.

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK expands its footprint in Pangasinan, Cavite, and Mandaluyong City with the opening of three new general agency (GA) offices in the country.

 

Diamond Trillion Life Insurance Agency Inc., headed by General Agency Leader Laneza Molina under Diamond 7, opened its doors for Pru Life UK customers at JT Commercial Building, 95 Brgy Roxas Blvd., San Carlos City in Pangasinan.

 

Francisco Jr. and Family Life Insurance Agency Inc., headed by General Agency Leader Farrah del Monico under B-Empire Life Insurance Services, opened its office at 2nd floor, Unit 8, J12 Property Leasing, Lot 2515-A-4&5, Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy Anabu Ii-D, Imus City in Cavite.

 

While Astra Life Insurance Agency Inc. headed by General Agency Leader Ryanier Angeles under Crystal Quartz 2, opened its office at Ground Floor, Unit 1b Ajk Bldg., 326 Shaw Boulevard Corner Acacia Lane, Hagdang Bato Libis in Mandaluyong City.

 

Celebrating its 25th year in the Philippines, Pru Life UK is going from strength to strength as it expands its footprint and opens more general agency offices to fulfill its promise to help more Filipinos live healthier and wealthier lives.

 

Since its establishment in 1996, the company has expanded its footprint by opening more than 190 branches and general agency offices in the Philippines and has grown its life insurance agency force to become the country’s largest with more than 35,000 agents. Pru Life UK was also named the top life insurer in the country based on the Insurance Commission’s Full Year 2020 rankings in terms of new business annual premium equivalent (NBAPE).

 

Pru Life UK also ranked first amongst local life insurance companies in terms of number of Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) agents. This year, the insurer more than doubled its MDRT agents to 501 compared with last year’s 246 qualifiers.