Updates on Danvil Plans and Other Pre-need Firms from March to May 2009

May 30, 2009 · Filed Under Danvil Plans, Pre-need · 3 Comments 

March 13-19

At the Senate hearing on pre-need firms, former Legacy executive Carolina Hinola accused SEC Commissioner Jesus Enrique Martinez of covering up Legacy’s financial problems after accepting gifts from Legacy, including a 5-million-peso house and lot and a 1.5-million Ford Expedition from Legacy head Celso de Los Angeles.

Insiders also claimed that Martinez tried to broker the sale of Danvil Plans to the Legacy Group. The sale did not push through after Danvil Plans backed out of the deal allegedly upon the advice of other top pre-need executives.

(Martinez died on May 6 due to colon cancer complications.)

Read more

Danvil Plans, Coco Plans, AMA Plans Deficient in Their Trust Funds

May 8, 2009 · Filed Under Danvil Plans, Pre-need · 19 Comments 

Here are some key points of recent news on these 3 pre-need firms.
Thanks to Epoy who notified me about these developments.

The information here was gathered by Philippine Daily Inquirer reporters at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into pre-need firms on May 6.

  • Coco Plans, AMA Plans and Danvil Plans were found by SEC to have deficient trust funds.
  • Coco Plans and Danvil Plans have submitted their proposals on how to build up their capital.
  • AMA Plans has not yet submitted its proposal.
  • Some of the remaining 19 pre-need firms have submitted their financial statements and have to comply with the SEC requirement until May 14.
  • Caesar Michelena of Coco Plans said Coco Plans’ trust fund is enough to make maturity pay-outs for the next 9 years.
  • SEC Chairwoman Fe Barin said SEC was reviewing the financial statements of the pre-need firms and coordinating with trustee banks if the trust funds are there.
  • Senator Manuel Roxas suggested that SEC require pre-need firms to fill up the deficiencies in their trust funds before they continue selling plans.
  • Roxas mentioned that the failed Legacy was still selling plans the month before it applied for dissolution.

Source:  3 more troubled pre-need firms watched
By Christine Avendano
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Prudentialife Plans — License to Sell Pre-need Plans Suspended

April 20, 2009 · Filed Under Pre-need · 6 Comments 

SEC Chairperson Fe Barin reported that SEC suspended the license of Prudentialife to sell new pre-need plans because its capital buildup plan did not pass the requirements of the SEC.

Prudentialife President Jose Alberto Alba has responded to the SEC’s suspension of its license to sell new pre-need plans by saying that the firm will continue to operate as a servicing firm for its preneed plans.

He said the firm will continue to pay benefits to planholders.

He also said Prudentialife Market Resource Corp. will continue to sell health plans, mutual funds and other insurance products and will continue to pursue new opportunities beyond the preneed industry.

I’m just bothered by the last statement in the article, saying that only 2 preneed firms submitted their capital build-up plans before the deadline of April 15 — Prudentialife and Cocoplans. Cocoplans’ proposal was approved while Prudentialife’s plan was not.

What about the other preneed firms?  What are their capital build-up plans?

In a related article, SEC Chairperson Fe Barin was quoted as saying that planholders affected by the suspension of Prudentialife’s license to sell pre-need plans should go to the SEC for advice.

Source/Reference:  Hannah L. Torregoza, author
SEC revokes license to sell of Prudential Life Plans, firm airs side

Manila Bulletin     mb.com.ph