BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAG) is encouraging the farmers and fisherfolks to apply for the free crop, livestock, and non-crop agricultural assets insurances of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
Assistant Municipal Agriculturist Catherine Agcon made the call du-ring the 3rd Quarter Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) meeting on Aug. 10 when she reported the agricultural damage caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that jolted Abra and other areas in Northern Luzon.
Agcon said the office received damage reports on rice crops, corn, high-value crops (sugarcane, banana, and squash), rice granaries, and livestock.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported a total of P3,402,161.80 worth of damage to agriculture covering livestock and poultry damage amounting to P345, 000 and agricultural assets at P3,057,161.80.
Agcon said the PCIC, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, offers insurance program for rice, high-value commercial crops, fisheries, livestock, and non-crop agricultural assets such as equipment and machineries.
The insurance is an assistance extended to farmers and fisher folks to protect their farm against possible losses due to natural calamities and other forms of agricultural risks such as attack of pests and diseases.
She urged the farmers and fisherfolk to apply for the insurance which is free of charge.
The insurance claim that an applicant may receive from the PCIC depends on the verification and assessment of the damage/loss crop or livestock.
Agcon said their office is only in charge of assisting an applicant in filling up the application form.
The interview, assessment, and approval of the insurance assistance of the applicant will be conducted by the PCIC.
Because PCIC has no office in Bontoc, an applicant may get a copy of the application form and submit the same at the OMAG located at the third floor of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
The OMAG may also respond to queries of interested applicants about the program as it has it has always been the partner of the PCIC in assisting clients of the required documents.
Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr., who also chairs the MDRRMC, encouraged farmers and fisherfolks to avail of the insurance offered by the PCIC especially since the program covers farmers’ crops and livestock damaged by diseases, pest infestation, and natural calamities.
“We pray that we will not be affected by man-made and natural calamities, but should it be inevitable. The insurance program is a big help to farmers and fisherfolks because it guarantees a return on their investment so they can start over again,” Tudlong added.
From January to June, 213 farmers and fisherfolks applied for the insurance program. – Alpine L. Killa- Malwagay
