MANILA, (PIA) — The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) has announced plans to indemnify more than 10,000 farmers affected by Typhoon Julian, with an estimated total compensation of P93.8 million.
This decision comes as part of the agency’s efforts to support farmers in three regions who have suffered significant crop damage.
In a report submitted to Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., PCIC President Jovy Bernabe detailed that 10,781 insured farmers—primarily growing rice, corn, and high-value crops—will benefit from the indemnity. The affected regions include the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region I, and Region II.
“We need to immediately indemnify our farmers to restore their financial health so they can quickly recover from this calamity,” Tiu Laurel said. “Fast-tracking the release of their insurance claims will foster confidence in the PCIC among our farmers and encourage more investors in agriculture.”
Of the insured farmers, 6,585 are from Region I, which includes Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. The damage in this region has been the most severe, with losses estimated at P62.3 million, primarily affecting rice farms, which account for about P51.3 million of the total damage. Region II, which includes Batanes, Cagayan, Isabel, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya, has 1,841 insured farmers, while CAR has 2,355.
Bernabe assured that the PCIC is committed to assisting affected farmers, stating, “We have also issued strict instructions to our staff to assist affected farmers and speed up the processing of their damage claims.”
The swift action by PCIC aims to provide critical support to farmers as they navigate the challenges posed by Typhoon Julian and work towards recovery. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
