The 5th AGRITERRA mission to the Philippines was successfully held from January 23 to February 8, 2003. The mission was composed of Mr. Rik Delnoye, AGRITERRA Liaison Officer for Asia and Mr. Gerard Pierik of Interpolis Re, who was joined by his wife Mrs. Marie-Anne Pierik. Below are the highlights of the mission.
PAKISAMA Mutual Operations
Mr. Pierik met several times with the officers and staff of the PAKISAMA Mutual to discuss the status of operations of the PAKISAMA Mutual, further fine-tune the use of the Stitching OASE, and to suggest systems and procedures in further improving the operations of the PAKISAMA Mutual.
Mr. Pierik, together with PAKISAMA Mutual President Oscar Castillo and General Manager Rainier Almazan, also met last 29 January 2003 with officers of the Insurance Commission (IC) namely by Commissioner Eduardo Malinis, and Insurance Specialists Ms. Maricel Basallote and Rosalina Bactol. In the meeting, the IC officers were oriented on the operational status of the PAKISAMA Mutual, and the role of the Interpolis Re in the development of the PAKISAMA Mutual, and as its reinsurer.
In turn, Commissioner Malinis briefed the body on some basic requirements to be asked of the Interpolis for it to be able to legally provide reinsurance to the PAKISAMA Mutual, and expressed the ICs appreciation to the Interpolis for the assistance it is extending to the PAKISAMA Mutual. [Picture Gallery]
In January 30, 2003, Mr. Pierik, again together with Mr. Castillo and Mr. Almazan, met with Mr. Daniel Mercado and Mr. Onofre de Dios of Prudential Life. Mr. Mercado is the Actuarial Consultant of the PAKISAMA Mutual. Mr. Mercado was given a copy of the signed Reinsurance Agreement between the PAKISAMA Mutual and Interpolis Re, to be able to harmonize the actuarial study he is presently developing with the terms of the Reinsurance Agreement and the other requirements of the IC. [Picture Gallery]
Meeting with NGOs and POs in the Philippines
Mr. Delnoye met separately with various local and international POs and NGOs in the Philippines, which included the Apit Tako, a Baguio-based NGO; the NATCCO, an apex organization of cooperatives in the Philippines; the ASIADHRRA, a network of rural development NGOs in Asia; the VICTO, a regional apex cooperative in the Visayas; the PASAKA, a farmers federation based in Iligan City; SANDUGUAN; a representative from the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA); the CARRD, a rural development NGO; and the PhilDHRRA, another network of rural development NGOs in the Philippines. Most of these organizations are members of the AGRITERRA Program Council in the Philippines.
The AGRITERRA Program Council also met separately as a council last February 5, 2003. The main agenda items for the meeting were to update each other on their respective work, and to evaluate the partnership with AGRITERRA.
PAKISAMA Mutual Launching in Kalibo
Last February 3, 2003, the mission traveled to Kalibo, Aklan together with Mr. Castillo and Mr. Almazan to grace the provincial launching of the PAKISAMA Mutual. The activity was spearheaded by the PAKISAMA Mutual Chapter in Aklan, the Buklod Aklanon, which is also a PAKISAMA affiliate in the area composed of local farmers and fishers cooperatives.
The activity was held at the headquarters of the PASAKA-TSMPC, a passenger vehicle cooperative in Kalibo. Almost 40 participants, mostly rural women, attended the activity, and among them were representatives of the 12,000-strong Rural Cooperative Bank of Kalibo (RCBK).
During the formal program, Mr. Delnoye and Mr. Pierik gave an inspirational message, where they enjoined everyone to actively participate in the micro-insurance program. Mr. Castillo also oriented the participants on the PAKISAMA Mutual and its product. The PAKISAMA Mutual staff composed of Visayas Branch Insurance Coordinator Mr. Benny Aquillo and Kadamays Mr. Maximo Salavante, who is the president of Buklod Aklanon, and Mr. Crispin Aguelo were also formally introduced.
To cap the formal launching, Mr. Pierik, Mr. Delnoye and Mr. Castillo jointly awarded the Membership Certificates to the first batch of Aklan member-policyholders from Buklod-Aklanon. [Picture Gallery]
