MANILA — A Manila Regional Trial Court has affirmed the validity of the revised framework for passenger personal accident insurance (PPAI), the Insurance Commission (IC) said.

In a statement, the IC said Branch 180 of the Manila RTC, in a decision dated May 20 this year, dismissed a petition filed by the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) and upheld the revised PPAI framework, as well as the accreditation of a third insurance pool.

The IC said it issued Circular Letter No. 2025-17 dated Sept. 8, 2025, which revised the PPAI framework and allowed the accreditation of additional eligible insurance pools.

Under the program, two insurance pools were previously accredited for the 2020 to 2025 period: the SCCI Management and Insurance Agency Corporation and Pioneer Insurance & Surety Corporation (SCCI-Pioneer Pool), and the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency and Cocogen Insurance (PAMI-Cocogen Pool).

Both pools, the IC said, also applied for and were granted accreditation under the 2025 to 2030 PPAI program.

On Dec. 1, 2025, the IC accredited a third pool managed by Centerstar Management and Insurance Agency Inc. and led by Milestone Guaranty and Assurance Corp., prompting ACTO to seek legal relief.

The transport group filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition, along with a request for a temporary restraining order, writ of preliminary injunction, status quo ante order, and other injunctive remedies.

ACTO argued that the Insurance Commission allegedly committed grave abuse of discretion in accrediting additional insurance pools, saying this could undermine economies of scale and weaken existing risk-sharing arrangements.

“In its decision, the RTC denied ACTO’s prayer for a writ of preliminary injunction and status quo ante order, finding that CL No. 2025-17 does not violate any law, rule, or regulation,” the IC said.

“The RTC likewise found no merit in ACTO’s allegations that its rights to due process and equal protection of the laws had been violated.” (PNA)