ILOILO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is encouraging farmers and fisherfolk across Western Visayas to secure insurance through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) by visiting their respective Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs).
Since May 1, PCIC has started accepting insurance applications via MAOs for farmers wishing to insure their rice and corn crops, including livestock, for the ongoing wet or first cropping season.
Fisherfolk who own or manage motor bancas, fishing boats, or fishponds can also avail themselves of this insurance.
According to Regional Executive Director Dennis R. Arpia of the DA, registering for insurance at MAOs provides a significant advantage. In the event of calamities such as typhoons, floods, or pest attacks, insured parties are eligible to receive indemnity claims from PCIC, thus offering financial relief.
During a session of “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Region 6, Arpia emphasized the importance of continuous awareness about insurance availability, not just during disaster periods.
“We are actively working to expand our coverage and reach more people with these services,” he said on Tuesday morning, June 18.
Glenn Carbon, chief of the Claims and Adjustment Division at PCIC Region 6, outlined the registration process as straightforward: “Applicants only need to visit their local MAOs and express their intent to apply for PCIC insurance.”
The MAO personnel will assist applicants by providing forms to be filled out and registering them in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBA). This certification confirms the management of the claimed farmland within their respective barangays.
Farmers managing up to 1.5 hectares are eligible to apply for this insurance without any cost, and upon successful registration through RSBA, they can receive a maximum indemnity claim of P20,000 during calamities.
This maximum claim is intended to compensate for expenses on farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and labor.
Carbon further said this insurance is free for eligible farmers and fisherfolk. “They simply need to enroll at their MAOs,” he added.
However, farmers managing more than 1.5 hectares must pay a premium to qualify for larger indemnity claims.
“Self-financed farmers seeking higher benefits can opt to pay the corresponding premium, although many prefer the RSBA as it is free,” Carbon explained.
The application period for insurance with PCIC will continue until September for the first cropping season, with the second cropping applications potentially beginning in October.
Carbon also emphasized the need for regular insurance applications for every cropping cycle to ensure coverage during calamities. Uninsured crops during specific cycles, like the second cropping of rice, would not be eligible for claims.
From January to May 2024, PCIC has disbursed approximately P391.2 million in indemnity claims within the region, with around P50.8 million attributed to drought conditions.
In contrast, 2023 saw nearly P973 million in claims, with drought accounting for about P26.6 million./PN
