Pre-need firms get relief package.

Byline: Doris C. Dumlao

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS APproved a basket of regulatory relief seeking to boost the sluggish pre-need plan industry given a tough global environment.

SEC Chair Fe Barin told reporters the corporate regulator has come out with a circular allowing the 24 providers of pension, education and memorial plans with operating license for 2009 some flexibilitysuch as in multi-year capital build-up as well as in equity infusion using real estate assets and investment in unlisted shares.

But on the proposal from legislators to increase the amount of contribution to the trust funds as a percentage of premium collected, …