Wider insurance for Cebu farmers, fishers

THE Capitol will target an 80 percent insurance coverage of all farmers and fishermen in the province by the end of this year.

In a press conference, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the target was set in a meeting with the Provincial Agriculturist Office and other department heads in Moalboal town yesterday.

As of this month, Garcia said only 25 percent of farmers and fisherfolk were covered.

In July last year, Capitol signed an agreement with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).

The insurance coverage is part of the Capitol’s Integrated Farming Systems Development Program (IFSDP) which provides insurance to agro-fishery businesses of farmers and fisher folks from calamities.  Members of Bantay Dagat are also covered with an accident insurance.

The distribution also began on the third quarter of last year which covers about 40,000 farmers and fisherfolks in Cebu.

Garcia said she is also targeting an additional 120,000 for the PhilHealth coverage extending to the informal sectors. These sectors also include habal-habal (motorcycle for hire) drivers.

Garcia said the GSIS coverage of barangay officials including tanods, lupon tagapamayapa, and health workers will be transferred to PCIC.

She said under this setup, processing is faster by 20 days and the coverage is wider.  Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus