Insurers back Dooc reappointment

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s 78-strong non-life insurance industry are throwing their full support for the reappointment of Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel F. Dooc “once the new insurance code is signed into law.”

In a letter addressed to Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima dated Aug. 6, the Philippine Insurance and Reinsurance Association (PIRA) said that “there is no one in the industry . . . who can match what Commissioner Dooc has done in so short a time.”

PIRA chairman Emmanuel R. Que said that Dooc “personifies what the industry should be – firm but caring, unwavering yet full of compassion.”

 â€œIt is only fitting that he be given a fixed six year term to serve the industry he truly loves,” Que added.

The non-life industry, with combined assets of P125.5 billion in 2012, reminded the Finance Secretary his own opinion of the commissioner as “solid, very competent, and a man of delicadeza . . . I intend to renominate him once the Insurance Code is signed into law.”

Meanwhile, the 33-strong Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA) will meet on Tuesday get a consensus for the reappointment of Dooc.

PLIA president Esther Tan said that “we would really want to support the commissioner” although they were concerned over the “irrevocable” aspect of Dooc’s resignation.

Tan also said that they want all members to imprint their signatures on the position paper “for greater impact.”

Dooc’s resignation takes effect on Aug. 16, a few days before the proposed amendments to the country’s outdated Insurance Code should have lapsed into law, (or 30 days after Malacañang received the final version of the proposed law) or Pres. Aquino signs the proposed law.

Dooc’s resignation was prompt by a provision in the proposed amendments which gives the Insurance commissioner a six-year fixed term.

“I want to give way to the President or the Secretary (of Finance) to appoint a new commissioner, since it is common knowledge that I fought hard for the passage of the proposed amendments,” he told The STAR.

Dooc was appointed commissioner in Dec. 2010.

At present, the IC has four deputy commissioners. They are: Vida T. Chiong, for technical services; Ferdinand George A. Florendo, financial examination; Dorothy M. Calimag, management support services; and lawyer Dennis B. Funa, legal.

Chiong is the most senior having been deputy commissioner under three commissioners, while Florendo and Calimag are just months old in their present positions. Funa only assumed office last month.