Manila: A Manila Regional Trial (RTC) Court upheld the validity of the revised framework for passenger personal accident insurance (PPAI), the Insurance Commission (IC) said. In a statement on Monday, the IC said Manila RTC Branch 180, in a decision dated May 20 this year, dismissed the petition of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), upheld the PPAI revised framework validity, and the accreditation of a third insurance pool.

According to Philippines News Agency, the IC issued a Circular Letter No. 2025-17, dated Sept. 8, 2025, which revised the framework for PPAI and opened the accreditation to eligible insurance pools. Two insurance pools were accredited for the 2020 to 2025 program, namely the SCCI Management and Insurance Agency Corporation (SCCI)-Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corporation (SCCI-Pioneer Pool), and the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency-Cocogen Insurance (PAMI-Cocogen Pool). The IC said both pools also applied and were granted accreditation under the 2025 to 2030 PPAI program.

On Dec. 1, 2025, the IC accredited a third insurance pool managed by Centerstar Management and Insurance Agency Inc., and led by Milestone Guaranty and Assurance Corp. The IC said this prompted ACTO to file a petition for certiorari and prohibition, with prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order, writ of preliminary injunction, a status quo ante order, and other injunctive relief.

ACTO argued that the agency acted with grave abuse of discretion and contended that the accreditation of more insurance pools undermined economies of scale and weakened 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."