CICI: Insurance a must during crisis, calamities

CEBU, Philippines - With the presence of the economic crisis and the sudden occurrence of typhoons and other natural calamities, the Cebu Insurers Club, Inc. is stressing the importance of getting insured.

CICI is a group of insurance company branches, insurance brokers, agencies and adjusters in Cebu.

CICI president Marilyn Carrillo said that in line with their celebration of the Insurance Consciousness Week from October 19 to 24, they are encouraging the public to get insured specially with the problems now hounding every Filipino.

“The future is uncertain, yet we Filipinos can feel secured by getting insured,” said Carrillo who added that their theme for this year’s celebration, which is “Security in times of uncertainty is very timely in pushing forward their aim to highlight the importance of getting insured.

Carrillo said that this would help in coping up with the present economic situation and the effects of the current disasters in the country.

“The economy is down and is not really sure if it’s going to get worse or if it’s going to get better later in the year. The natural calamities continuously devastated parts of the country also and in times like this, it is truly necessary to be insured. One must be ready for the worst.”

CICI has been part of the annual celebration of the Insurance Consciousness week which started a decade ago by non-life insurers.

It was originally celebrated on the month of May but was moved to October years ago to have it together with events organized by the Southeast Asian region of Non-life insurance companies.

Carrillo shared that they use the celebration to further promote the importance of insurance particularly in “insuring one’s car, house, business, well being and other assets against natural and man-made perils.”

The events, Carrillo said, are also made to give more Filipinos the idea of the advantages of getting insured instead of practicing the “bahala na” attitude that would put them at risk.

According to Carrillo, the celebration for this year started in Manila at the Insurance Commission office followed by numerous public forums and symposiums made in Manila and in Cebu . A motorcade and a public forum will also take place today at the Casino Español.

Carrillo said that aside from the goal of educating more people on insurance and promoting the need to secure one, she said that they also aim to gather and harmonize the insurance industry through the celebration.

ICW 2009 is made possible with the support of the Philippine Insurers Club, Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, and the Insurance Commission.

“Through the ICW, we Filipinos, from ordinary students, minimum wage earners, and even wealthy business owners, get to know the importance of securing through insurance.”