MANILA, Philippines--SALES OF PRE-NEED PLANS hardly grew in the first 11 months of last year, with only life or memorial plans posting a significant growth.

Data from the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that total pre-need plan sales hit P17.58 billion as of November last year, practically the same level as in the first 11 months of 2006.

Sales of pension plans, which account for close to 60 percent of total pre-need plan sales, dipped 7.9 percent to P10.28 billion as of November last year.

Education plan sales likewise dropped as of November last year to P3.65 billion from P3.8 billion in the 2006 comparative period. Life plans, on the other hand, rose 39.95 percent to P3.65 billion.

In November alone, sales of pre-need plans dipped 13.18 percent to P1.46 billion from P1.68 billion the previous year.

Pension plans recorded the biggest sales decline of 19.7 percent in November last year to P794.03 million.

Education plan sales, on the other hand, fell 6.6 percent to P346.96 million, while life plan sales dipped to P319.85 million.