EX-99 16(i)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

       The undersigned officers and trustees of FRANKLIN TEMPLETON VARIABLE
INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST (the "Registrant") hereby appoint BRUCE G. LETO, HARMON
E. BURNS, KAREN L. SKIDMORE, Murray L. Simpson, Barbara J. Green, David P. Goss,
STEVEN J. GRAY AND JOAN BOROS (with full power to each of them to act alone) his
attorney-in-fact and agent, in all capacities, to execute, deliver and file in
the names of the undersigned, any and all instruments that said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Registrant to comply with
or register any security issued by the Registrant under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the
rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder, including but not limited to,
any registration statement, including any and all pre- and post-effective
amendments thereto, any other document to be filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission and any and all documents required to be filed with respect
thereto with any other regulatory authority. Each of the undersigned grants to
each of said attorneys, full authority to do every act necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he could
do if personally present, thereby ratifying all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         This Power of Attorney may be executed in one or more counterparts,
       each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall be
       deemed to be a single document.

       The undersigned officers and trustees hereby execute this Power of
Attorney as of the 9th day of October, 2001.

/s/ Charles E. Johnson                             /s/ Frank H. Abbottt III
                                                    -
Charles E. Johnson,                                Frank H. Abbott, III
Principal Executive Officer and Trustee            Trustee

/s/ Harris J. Ashton                               /s/ Robert F. Carlson
Harris J. Ashton,                                  Robert F. Carlson,
Trustee                                            Trustee

/s/ S. Joseph Fortunato                            /s/ Charles B. Johnson
S. Joseph Fortunato,                               Charles B. Johnson,
Trustee                                            Trustee

/s/ Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.                         /s/ Gordon S. Macklin
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.,                            Gordon S. Macklin,
Trustee                                            Trustee

/s/ Frank W.T. LaHaye                              /s/ Christopher H. Pinkerton
Frank W.T. LaHaye,                                 Christopher H. Pinkerton,
Trustee                                            Trustee



/s/ Martin L. Flanagan                             /s/ Kimberly H. Monasterio
----
Martin L. Flanagan,                                Kimberley H. Monasterio,
Principal Financial Officer                        Principal Accounting Officer