Cebu province insures farmers, fishermen

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) recently distributed insurance certificates worth P100 million to a thousand farmers and fishermen in northern Cebu.

Alberto Divinagracia of PCIC Central Visayas said this is the first in the entire country that the provincial government insured farmers and fishermen as well as their products and livestock.

“We hope this will be replicated  throughout the country,”  Divinagracia added.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and PCIC president Jovy Bernabe led the distribution held at the San Remegio Sports Complex and attended by Department of Agriculture regional director Leo Cañeda, fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, mayors and other local officials.

The provincial government will shoulder the premium of these farmers and fishermen corresponding to the value of their livestock and agricultural products.

At P35 per farmer or fisherman, they already have an insurance coverage of P50,000 plus P5,000 medical and burial assistance from PCIC.

Divinagracia said the processing of claims will take 15 to 20 days.

The first batch of farmers who received their certificates of insurance were from the municipalities of Asturias, Balamban, Tabuelan, San Remegio, Medellin, Bantayan, Santa Fe, Madridejos, Daanbantayan, Borbon, Tabogon and Sogod.

Cebu province  targets around 35,000 farmers and fishermen to be covered with insurance within this year.

The Capitol and PCIC developed a comprehensive package for farmers and fisherfolk who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Divinagracia explained that the insurance policy will not only cover the usual crop and livestock, but will also include high-value crops, fishponds and fish cages locally known as bubo.