The Insurance Commission (IC) said Thursday it issued new “Omnibus Guidelines on Investments” for all insurance companies, professional reinsurers and mutual benefit associations (MBAs).
Circular Letter (CL) No. 2025-09 aims to enhance the investment flexibility of these entities to better respond to the dynamic market environment, the IC said.
Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado said the new guidelines aim to further empower regulated entities to make well-informed investment decisions, ensuring the stability and growth of their financial assets while protecting policyholders’ interests.
The new CL consolidates and updates the existing investment framework, drawing from 15 previously issued CLs on allowable investments that have been superseded, supplemented, or used as references.
CL No. 2025-09 introduces new allowable investments for insurers, reinsurers and MBAs, including structured products, debt securities issued by supranational organizations and investment vehicles.
While these investments no longer require prior approval from the commission, the new guidelines include regulatory safeguards to ensure prudent risk levels while maximizing returns.
The new CL mandates that each new allowable investment must meet minimum credit rating requirements or be listed on recognized exchanges, providing transparency and market oversight.
The new CL also removes the prior approval requirement for certain Philippine peso (PHP) and foreign currency-denominated investments that meet accepted market-wide standards and have undergone external review processes such as credit rating and listing on recognized exchanges.
“By issuing these new omnibus guidelines, we are addressing the bottlenecks that hinder timely investment decisions and strain regulatory resources,” Regalado said.