Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation intensifies campaign for crops, livestock insurance

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation is strengthening its campaign for farmers to ensure their crops and livestock to protect agricultural production in cases of calamities and other sudden unpleasant events.

PCIC President Lawyer Jovy Bernabe said placing crops under insurance would, in turn, protect the farmers from possible losses caused by calamities like typhoons and fire.

PCIC is a socialized agency of government, which receives around P183 million yearly from Malacañang and a P2 billion capitalization. PCIC Board of Director Dave Villanueva said the fund is enough to cover all the claims of their clients.

Insurance programs offered by PCIC vary from rice and corn crops insurance, high value commercial crop insurance, livestock insurance, non-crop agricultural asset insurance and term insurance power packages.

The rice and corn crop insurance covers losses in rice and corn crops due to natural calamities, as well as plant pests and diseases from direct planting to the time of harvest.

The same coverage applies to high value crops such as vegetables, fruits, and the likes.

Meanwhile, livestock insurance ensures carabao, cattle, horse, sheep, poultry and game fowls and other animals that would meet accidental death or be inflicted with diseases.

Farmers can also ensure their warehouses, rice mills, irrigation facilities and other farm equipment through the non-crop agricultural asset insurance, which applies when these facilities and equipment are victimized by theft or struck by fire, lightning, and earthquake.

On the other hand, the term insurance covers death of the insured due to accident, natural causes, murder or assault. It guarantees the payment of the face value or the amount of the approved agricultural loan upon the death or total permanent disability of the insured borrower.

PCIC has awarded around P82 million to 14, 500 farmers nationwide, said PCIC Vice President Norman Cajucom.

In Central Visayas, P2,682,648 worth of claims has been released to 9,071 farmers. PCIC has covered a total of P173,578,210 worth of claims, said PCIC-7 Regional Manager lawyer Antonio Uy.

Farmers may apply at any accredited agricultural insurance system of PCIC, including municipal and provincial agricultural offices where PCIC has assigned underwriters to process applications and requests. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)