SMALL-SCALE mining is a lucrative business but is, unfortunately, also a very risky occupation. In the Philippines, small-scale and pocket mining is practiced in more than 30 provinces, employs up to 500,000 miners, and supports the livelihood of another two million people across the nation.* The undeniable hazards and dangers that small-scale and pocket miners face in their line of work are the reasons why they need insurance. However, the high risks the job involves are the very reason why insurance companies in the Philippines have been reluctant to provide these workers with the protection they need and deserve.
Until now.
Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Brokerage, Inc. (CLIB) introduces Cebuana Lhuillier Miners Protect, the first and only insurance policy in the Philippines designed for miners, who have long been identified as an uninsurable sector. As a general rule, mining has always been excluded by insurance companies due to its high-risk potential. That means this sector has no insurance coverage to protect the miners and their families from whatever unfortunate incident may arise in the performance of their duties. CLIB developed this affordable product with the intent to contribute to the small-scale mining community, given our understanding of the plight of our small-scale miners.
Cebuana Lhuillier Miners Protect features in- and out-of-mining area insurance coverage for eligible miners from 18 to 60 years old in cases such as personal accidents, including dismemberments and/or disablements. It also provides benefits for death due to sickness and old age and even offers cash assistance provisions for fire and other emergencies.
Just recently, officials and members of the Benguet Federation of Small Scale Miners, Inc. (BFSSMI) became the first applicants for Cebuana Lhuillier Miners Protect insurance policies.
Norberto Cobaldes, President of BFSSMI, disclosed that their officials first acquired a group policy and that dozens of their members have already applied for Cebuana Lhuillier Miners Protect, hoping that it would encourage other Small-Scale Mining leaders and their members to apply and be insured.
Cobaldes said, "We should give credence to Cebuana Lhuillier for coming up with an insurance program for miners and recognizing the efforts and welfare of pocket miners." Since Cobaldes’ pronouncements, dozens of local pocket miners from different small-scale mining associations have enrolled in Cebuana Lhuillier Miners Protect, including the Sugalan Clan Small-Scale Mining Association in Tuba, Benguet. President Angie Sugalan narrated: "We enrolled our pocket miners so that they are supported, especially during difficult times."
CLIB, who’s targeting to cover at least 20,000 miners nationwide with an estimated minimum premium of P4 million, is proud to answer the call of Benguet miners for much-needed insurance coverage.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, remarked: "Our mission at Cebuana Lhuillier is to ensure financial inclusion for every Filipino, regardless of their occupation. We believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to improve their way of life, and that includes having access to comprehensive insurance coverage. Our advocacy is rooted in reaching everyone, without any exceptions or exclusivity. We are committed to empowering and protecting the entire Filipino community, one person at a time."
CLIB General Manager and Group Head Anthony Lou Bernabe said: "We embrace the challenge
of ensuring the unensurable. While miners are often deemed high-risk and turned away by
insurance companies, we have proudly taken on the responsibility. Our goal is to provide coverage where others see obstacles, ensuring that miners have the protection they deserve."
With this pioneering offering, CLIB hopes that other small-scale miners and mining associations across the country will follow in the footsteps of Benguet miners so they, too, can go about daily tasks with peace of mind knowing that someone’s got their back when the need arises. PR
*(https://www.planetgold.org/resiliency-philippine-small-scale-mining-communities)