OPAP, Pioneer partner to provide insurance for migrant Filipinos

THE country’s oldest and largest organization of licensed overseas employment services provider has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Pioneer Life Inc. and Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corp., two of the largest insurance corporations in the Philippines, involving the provision of the insurance needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as stipulated under Republic Act (RA) 10022.

Eduardo Mahiya, Overseas Placement Association of the Philippines Inc. ( OPAP) president, signed the agreement while Ma. Consuelo Banes and Yangtze Quin, both first vice presidents, signed on behalf of Pioneer Life Inc. and Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corp., respectively.

“We at the OPAP are very confident that the Pioneer insurance group will be able to satisfy the needs of our OFWs when it comes to the compulsory insurance mandated by law which is designed for their protection and welfare,” Mahiya said.

OPAP said that the compulsory insurance coverage, effective for the duration of the migrant worker’s employment contract, shall cover at the minimum accidental death, with at least $ 15,000 in survivor’s benefit payable to the migrant worker’s beneficiaries; natural death, with at least $ 10,000 in survivor’s benefit payable to the migrant worker’s beneficiaries; permanent total disablement, with at least $ 7,500 in disability benefit payable to the migrant worker; and repatriation cost of the worker when his/ her employment, including the transport of his/ her personal belongings.

“In case of death, the insurance provider shall arrange and pay for the repatriation or return of the worker’s remains,” OPAP said.

The insurance will also provide subsistence allowance benefit of at least $ 100 per month for a maximum of six months for a migrant worker who is involved in a case or litigation for the protection of his/ her rights in the receiving country; money claims arising from employer’s liability which may be awarded or given to the worker in a judgment or settlement of his/ her case in the National Labor Relations Commission, and which should be equivalent to at least three months’ salaries for every year of the migrant worker’s employment contract; cost of compassionate visit of one family member or a requested individual; medical evacuation; and medical repatriation.

RA 10022, the Act Amending Republic Act 8042, improves the standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of OFWs, their families and overseas Filipinos in distress.

Mahiya said that OPAP, in tapping the services of the Pioneer insurance group for the insurance needs of the OFWs, is pleased to establish a longterm relationship with an insurance provider tested and proven in meeting the insurance needs of its customers.

The Pioneer insurance group is one of market leaders in insurance, with a net worth of over P6 billion.

“As insurer of OFWs deployed by OPAP members, the Pioneer group is committed to pay all the insurance benefits of all OFWs as provided for by the law,” Mahiya said.

“Under our agreement, it has also committed to provide free life and accidental insurance to all employees of OPAP- member private licensed recruitment agencies, provided that their employees are duly registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration,” he added.