The Insurance Commission (IC) has ordered Haven Sanctuary Mortuary Care Services, OPC, a mortuary firm based in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, to stop operating as a pre-need and insurance agent due to lack of required licenses and authority.
In a public notice, the IC stated that the company had been acting as an agent of Cosmopolitan Climbs Life Plan, Inc. and representing itself as an agent of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phils.), Inc. without proper authorization.
The regulator directed the firm to pay fines and return all commissions and payments received from unauthorized transactions.
"In this regard, the public is hereby warned to refrain from transacting with representatives and agents of Haven Sanctuary Mortuary Care Services, OPC," the IC said in a decision dated May 21.
Under Republic Act No. 9829 (Pre-need Code) and Republic Act No. 10607 (Amended Insurance Code), all firms and individuals engaged in pre-need and insurance activities must secure IC licenses before operating legally.
As of end-December 2025, the IC listed 14 licensed pre-need firms in the country, including Cosmopolitan Climbs and Manufacturers Life. Other licensed firms include AMA Plans, Inc., Ayala Plans, Inc., CityPlans Incorporated, Eternal Plans, Inc., Evergreen Life Plan Services, Inc., Freedomlife Plan Corporation, Goldenfuture Life Plans, Inc., Goodlife Plans, Inc., PhilPlans First, Inc., St. Peter Life Plan, Inc., Sun Life Financial Plans, Inc., and Trusteeship Plans, Inc.
Pre-need products commonly include memorial, pension, and education plans.
Haven Sanctuary is the fifth entity to be issued a cease-and-desist order by the IC this year, as the regulator intensifies its crackdown on unauthorized and noncompliant firms. Earlier, the IC issued orders against Fire Services Mutual Benefit Association, Inc., Tulungan Mutual Benefit Association, Inc., Metropolitan Insurance Company, Inc., Vigattin Insurance, and Antz Insurance Agency & Services.