Fuse Financing Inc. (Fuse), the lending arm of GCash, is now giving free insurance coverage to GLoan borrowers with GLoan Protect. Available for a limited time, this newest feature provides borrowers with free loan and health insurance for every GLoan disbursement worth a minimum of P500, underwritten by Oona Insurance Corporation. This free insurance will waive pending loan balance in case of sudden customer demise or accident-related permanent disability, and provide resources to recover from medical emergencies.

Life and health emergencies can strike unexpectedly. For many Filipinos, sudden medical expenses or unexpected urgent costs can quickly lead to financial distress. Hospitalization and medical costs often result in heavy debt, while the lack of insurance leaves families with limited options to recover financially.

“Oftentimes, Filipinos don’t think of insurance until it’s too late,” said Tony Isidro, President and CEO of Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of GCash. “With the free insurance, we’re making sure that every time someone gets a GLoan, they also get a safety net. It’s our way of helping users feel more secure and protected without them having to spend extra.”
By integrating protection into GLoan, GCash—through Fuse and GInsure, the digital insurance platform of GCash with inclusive insurance products across 11 categories including health, life, accident, travel, vehicle, and more —offers borrowers added peace of mind and a safety net against life’s uncertainties.

Under GLoan Protect, the free health insurance covers a hospitalization allowance given to all eligible users who avail of a GLoan worth a minimum amount of P500 moving forward. Users can claim a minimum of P500 or up to 10% of the total loan value when they get confined in the hospital for a minimum stay of 3 days.

The loan insurance benefit is automatically activated once a customer receives their loan proceeds from GLoan, and coverage remains constant and valid until the end of the loan term even when the customer fully pays off their loan earlier than the loan’s due date. In case of customer demise or accident-related permanent disability, beneficiaries will receive the remaining loan value, and the remaining balance will be waived and settled.

The policy will automatically appear in the GInsure dashboard, making the process simple and familiar for borrowers. Claims can be filed through the same steps used for other GInsure products.

“We see this synergy between Fuse and GInsure as part of our mission to reimagine what finance can do for every Filipino,” said Winsley Bangit, Group Head of New Businesses at Mynt, the parent company of GCash. “By combining credit and insurance on a single service, we’re pushing the boundaries of digital innovation to give Filipinos not just access to funding, but also the protection they deserve. It’s another step toward building a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem.”

GCash made this initiative possible in partnership with Oona Insurance Corporation, a wholly-owned company by Oona Philippines Holdings Corporation (OPHC), actively expanding into health and digital-first solutions that meet the needs of today’s consumers. Through this partnership, GCash is bringing essential protection to more Filipinos by integrating coverage directly into its widely used digital services.

“Our mission at Oona is to make protection part of everyday life, not something out of reach. By making coverage automatic and effortless, we take an important step toward closing the protection gap and ensuring more Filipinos have the security to move forward with confidence.” said Abhishek Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Oona Insurance. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY— The provincial government of Northern Samar through its Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO), in coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), has conducted a series of coordination meetings with concerned local government units as part of preparations for the proposed Catarman–Allen–Victoria Transmission Loop, a project aimed at reducing brownouts and improving power reliability in Northern Samar.

Provincial officials said the planned transmission loop is designed to strengthen and add flexibility to the province’s power transmission system by providing alternative routes for electricity during outages, particularly those caused by tripper incidents along the Palanas–Cara transmission line.

Discussions during the meetings focused on system planning, site requirements, land use considerations, and the support needed from local government units to facilitate the implementation of the project. The transmission loop is also expected to support the integration of renewable energy sources and help meet the province’s growing electricity demand.

A coordination meeting with the local government unit of Victoria, attended by NGCP and PEDIPO officials and held in the presence of Mayor Joey Ardales, centered on the proposed construction of a five-hectare substation in the municipality, including the development of an access road.

The Victoria substation was identified as a key component of the transmission loop, as it will provide an alternative power route during system disturbances, particularly those affecting the Palanas–Cara Substation.

Separately, PEDIPO and NGCP also met with the local government unit of Catarman, through the efforts of Mayor Dianne Rosales, to discuss plans for a proposed two-hectare switching station. The meeting tackled the proposed site location and coordination requirements needed to move the project forward.

Once completed, the Catarman switching station is expected to enhance system flexibility and contribute to a more reliable electricity supply for Catarman and nearby communities.
Provincial officials said the coordination activities reflect the Northern Samar provincial government’s commitment to strengthening power infrastructure, supporting renewable energy integration, and improving electricity service across the province.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Wildlife authorities in Ormoc City have rescued two reticulated pythons found in residential areas of Barangay Punta.

City officials said the snakes were turned over to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) for proper handling and assessment following separate rescue operations by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The first python was rescued on January 17 after a resident along Apitong Street reported seeing the snake on her ceiling. ENRO records showed the python measured 10.17 feet long and weighed 10.5 kilograms. Examinations revealed it had ingested a young dog and suffered an eye injury. The reptile later regurgitated the dog on January 20 and underwent eye surgery a day later. It is currently under observation at the Ormoc Wildlife Rescue Center in Barangay Dolores and is expected to be released back into the wild after a 10-day recovery period, upon veterinary clearance.

In a separate incident on January 21, another reticulated python was rescued from the ceiling of a house at Sacay Compound, also in Barangay Punta. Measuring 11.2 feet long and weighing 10.5 kilograms, the second snake was examined by the City Veterinary Office and declared fit for immediate release into its natural habitat.

City officials stressed the importance of promptly reporting wildlife sightings and maintaining close coordination among residents and response agencies to ensure both public safety and wildlife conservation. They reminded the public to immediately alert authorities when wild animals are spotted in residential areas.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)