Capitol clarifies: No deal signed yet for brgy workers’ insurance

CEBU, Philippines — The provincial government has clarified that no contract has been signed just yet between Capitol and Fortune Life Insurance Inc., a private insurance company, for the insurance coverage of barangay workers in the province.

Provincial General Services Officer Jone Siegfred Sepe told reporters that the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) is still evaluating Fortune Life’s proposal considering the anticipated change of administration on June 30.

“Naa’y mga considerations didto nga among gitan-aw nga angay hataga’g study like, for example, naa’y change of administration by July 1 and when there is a change of administration, naa man puy mga changes sa mga appointed positions like barangay tanods or barangay health workers (We took several things into consideration, considering the change of administration by July 1 and, when there is a change of administration, workers in appointed positions like tanods and barangay health workers also change),” Sepe said.

He said it is important to look into the people who will be covered by the insurance, especially that the province is supposed to make a payment first.

“Mo-issue ta’g bayad karon with the current list of tanods, basin magbag-o na pud inig July 1, basin dili na advantageous to the government (If we will make a payment for the current list of tanods, it will not be advantageous to the government if the list will change by July 1),” Sepe said.

Sepe said the outgoing administration is taking measures to ensure it will be “very certain” with its decisions to avoid problems when newly re-elected Governor Gwendolyn Garcia assumes office.

He said it is even possible that the process, as far as sealing the deal with Fortune Life is concerned, will not be completed by June 30.

“Naay’s dakong chance. Like for example, kon mo-recommend mi karon for MOA, naa pa may 10 days para mohatag sila sa ilang performance bond. Inig human sa performance bond, naa pay 10 days para mo-issue mi sa kontrata so malig-san man (There is a chance. Even if we recommended that a MOA is signed now, the firm has 10 days to give a performance bond and the province has 10 days to issue a contract),” he said.

Earlier, the Provincial Board approved a resolution that provides insurance coverage for workers in the barangays through Fortune Life.

Earlier, Garcia's camp questioned why Fortune Life has to cover the insurance of more than 20,000 workers from 1,066 barangays in the province.

Lawyer Frank Eduard Dinsay, a member of Garcia’s transition team, found this irregular considering that there are at least two government insurance companies, namely the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), that can cover this type of insurance.

Sepe explained that GSIS only covers non-life or accident insurance and does not cover life and medical insurance. (FREEMAN)