We budget, we save, and we invest; we do a lot of things to make sure that our future is secure. However, something outside our control occurs, an accident or an act of God, and suddenly we find ourselves losing everything we’ve worked hard for.
This series of events is not new to many Filipinos. Living in a country plagued with natural calamities, accidents and shortages, majority of us have suffered lightly or harshly from the following:
Fires
During the summer season, the Philippines often suffers a sharp rise in fire-related incidents. Volunteer and employed firefighters do their best to respond to each call, but sometimes they are too late, or the fire is just too strong to control.
Having your house burn down is a tragic event. Not only can you lose all your belongings, but you could even lose your life or your loved ones.
Luckily, you can lessen the chances of a fire occurring by taking some precautions.
First, know what to look out for. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the top three causes of fire in the Philippines are faulty electrical connections, lit cigarette butts, and open flames from unattended stoves.
After finding the information that you need, make sure you habitually inspect your house for any fire hazards. Quickly fix sparking electrical outlets and uncovered live wires. If you have any smokers living with you, be careful of using flammable products like hairspray and spray-on deodorant around them when they are smoking. Make sure that they completely snuff out their cigarette butts when they’re done smoking. When cooking, keep a close watch on the stove and properly close the gas tank when finished.
Unfortunately, you can only do what you can in your own house; you have no control over your neighbors’ actions. So, in case an incident does occur, make sure you know the correct numbers to call.
Bureau of Fire Protection (NCR) Direct line: (02) 426-0219, (02) 426-3812, (02)426-0246
Storms
Living in a country that is part of the Typhoon Belt, Filipinos are used to weathering the devastating storms of Mother Nature. Approximately 10 typhoons enter the country yearly, half with the potential of being destructive.
Because we Filipinos are so used to it, there are already strict procedures in place when a storm comes, especially in the provinces near bodies of water. Despite this, we always hear stories of people refusing to evacuate their houses, because leaving their homes may also mean leaving all they have to be washed away by the storm.
Remember though, material possessions are not worth your life. As long as you are alive, there is always hope of starting over.
Landslides
Landslides can come as a consequence of a powerful storm, or less commonly in our country, an earthquake. Just last September, a landslide in Naga, Cebu brought about by the aftermath of Typhoon Ompong (International name: Mangkhut) buried dozens of people alive, killed 22 other people and crushed over 30 houses.
While not as rampant as storms, landslides can occur without any warning. And like the first two events, it can completely wipe out all your life’s work.
Road Accidents
Conversely, road accidents happen in Metro Manila, and they happen more often than you think.
Getting in a road accident can not only cost you money in property damage, but depending on the cause, you might even find yourself getting sued. And even if you win your case, you’ll still need to shell out money to pay for legal fees.</span
Medical Concerns
This particular problem can be brought about by accidents or genetics. You could land yourself in a road accident and break your leg, or maybe your family has a history of breast cancer. Unfortunately, medical problems are an issue you can never fully guard against even if you try to live a healthy lifestyle.
While the government has done its best to make medical procedures more accessible to the masses, it remains a fact that the best doctors, the best equipment, and the best procedures cost a whole lot of money.
Should you find yourself forced to undergo an expensive procedure, you better be prepared to lose a good chunk of your savings. Not only that, most operations require a recovery period and aftercare drugs. This means shelling out more money while not being able to work.
A word of advice: Take advantage of the free check-ups in health centers; catching a disease at its earliest stage will go a long way in saving your money and your life.
With that in mind, you may find yourself wanting to protect yourself from these natural calamities. Look no further than Cebuana Lhuillier’s Microinsurance, affordable insurance products to help Filipinos recover in times of need. Cebuana Lhuillier offers several innovative microinsurance products that promise to minimize impact of misfortunes on one’s financial position. Visit https://www.cebuanalhuillier.com for more information.