Government to speed up payment for crop damagesTHE Philippines’ sole agricultural insurance provider said it will speed up payments to rice and corn farmers whose crops were damaged by Tropical Storm “Juaning” (international codename: Nock-ten). The state-led Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) said it will pay damage claims by farmers faster than the usual 20-day claim settlement response time, Jovy Bernabe, its president, said. Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos. The shorter payment period will allow rice and corn farmers to recoup their losses and pay for immediate replanting, he said. Damage is currently pegged at P22.84 million.