The Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (DA-PCIC) has initially allotted P100 million in crop insurance payments for farmers whose insured crops were damaged by floodwaters due to typhoon ‘Gener’ and southwest monsoon (“habagat”) rains.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the PCIC will fast-track the processing and payment of crop insurance claims to enable affected farmers to re-plant again.

In a report to Secretary Alcala, PCIC President Jovy Bernabe said based on reports of the agency’s regional field staff, from July 29 to August 8, 2012, the initial crop insurance claims have to date amounted to P98.73 million.

The crop insurance claims belong to 8,613 farmers, of whom roughly 97 percent or 8,322 farmers planted rice, while the rest (291) raised corn.

The insured farmers planted a total area of 14,711 hectares (14,260 hectares of rice and 451 hectares of corn) that were submerged in floodwaters.

Bernabe has instructed the PCIC central office and field staff to fast-track the processing and payment of crop insurance claims on or before the maximum 20-day period.

by: Noel Reyes