Few farmers get insurance due to tedious process

CEBU, Philippines - Owing to the tedious process, only 86 out of more than 5,000 farmers in Cebu who have enrolled for insurance coverage for the damages to their crops have claimed their insurance, a Capitol official said.

Virgilio "Jack" Jakosalem, crop division chief of the Provincial Agricultural Office, said that the service at the local level is slower when enrolling the farmers for the insurance coverage.

 "Duna ta'y forms nga gi-produce from the provincial office kay limited man ang supply sa Provincial Crop Insurance Corporation," he said in yesterday's Kapistorya sa Capitol.

Jakosalem requested the municipal agricultural officers' aid in facilitating the enrollment.

"Ang atong criteria, unahon ang kadtong mga farmers associations or organizations nga naka-undergo na og farmers registration program. That doesn't mean way labot ang uban, gi-prioritize lang," he said.

The process also includes checking of the farmland and its growing crops, its neighboring lands and owners, and the farmer's house.

Some farmers find this enrollment process tedious, according to Jakosalem.

The PCIC insurance covers rice, corn, high-value crops, credit and life term and non-crop insurance lines, with the premium reaching more than P2.2 million, which is shouldered by the provincial government.

Meanwhile, the damage assessment in the agricultural sector has reached more than P158.8 million as of May 17.

The most affected crops are the high-value crops (P63 million), followed by corn (P45 million) and rice (P 3.2 million).

The insurance for affected crops cover natural disasters such as typhoons, floods and drought; plant diseases; and pest infestations. Other perils may be covered subject to the approval of the PCIC Board. — (FREEMAN)