Title
Amended Rules on Bond Issuance Rates and Procedures
Law
Circular Letter No. 2018-47
Decision Date
Sep 17, 2018
The Insurance Commission's updated regulations on bond issuance establish new premium rates, renewal terms, and compliance requirements for insurance companies, ensuring transparency and accountability in the bonding process.
A

Bonds Running for Less Than One Year

  • Annual premium charged in full, no pro-rating, except for promissory notes.
  • Extensions by endorsement for the remainder of the year do not incur additional premiums.
  • Additional works requiring extra payment entail additional pro-rated premiums.
  • New bond issuance for the same undertaking charges full annual premium.

Renewals and Continuing Bonds

  • Renewals or extensions longer than one year have premiums pro-rated for the entire extension term at applicable rates.
  • Continuing bonds with indefinite terms pay full annual premium with advance payment for each yearly renewal.

Performance and Surety Bonds

  • Premium rates specified by bond amount and type (callable vs non-callable) with minimums set.
  • Different rates apply for performance and surety bonds.
  • Government infrastructure projects under RA 9184 require specific Performance Bond forms with added premiums for defects liability period.
  • Non-infrastructure government projects use older bond forms with corresponding premium rates.

Minimum Rate and Combination Bonds

  • Minimum premium on any bond is ₱500.
  • If multiple bond types are combined in one bond, the highest premium rate applies.

Secured Bonds

  • 50% reduction in annual premium for bonds fully secured by:
    • Bank deposits assignments
    • Philippine government-guaranteed securities
    • Other allowable securities per Insurance Code
    • Real estate
  • Such bonds must be stamped "FULLY SECURED" and securities presented upon request.

Bond Forms and Issuance Procedures

  • Bond forms must be approved by the Insurance Commission.
  • All bonds must be in duplicate, consecutively and serially pre-numbered.
  • Signed blank bonds not allowed; original authorized signatures only.
  • Bonds must display rate, premium amount including taxes, and period covered.
  • Bonds coded and numbered per Insurance Commission guidelines, with regional office codes included.

Spoiled, Cancelled, and Lost Bonds

  • Spoiled or canceled bonds marked clearly and kept in separate files.
  • Lost bond forms require immediate sworn statements from company officials confirming non-issuance.

Bond Registry Maintenance

  • Insurance companies must maintain bond registry books open to public and Commission representatives.
  • Entries include bond number, date/place of issue, amount, bond type, secured obligation nature, beneficiary, and status.
  • Loss or destruction requires sworn explanations and reconstitution; issuing new bonds suspended until registry restored.
  • Upon license suspension or revocation, bond registry and unused forms must be surrendered.

Liability Registers

  • Insurance companies must maintain liability registers recording all bonds issued.
  • Subsidiary registers per bond type, recorded numerically and chronologically.

Authorized Signatories

  • Companies to submit annually updated list of authorized signatories and specimen signatures to the Insurance Commission by June 30.
  • Immediate notification to the Commission is required upon any changes.

Sanctions and Penalties

  • Violations of rules can lead to license suspension, revocation, penalties, or both.

Repealing Clause

  • This circular supersedes previous Insurance Commission letters and Memorandum Circular No. 1-77.
  • All conflicting rules, orders, and regulations are repealed or amended.

Effectivity

  • The circular takes effect immediately upon publication on the Insurance Commission website.

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