Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) offices in region 1 should strengthen cooperation to make more agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) aware of the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA). 

This was stressed by PCIC representatives in a vitual meeting with DAR and ARB organization underwriters and fieldworkers held at San Fernando City, La Union on August 31, 2021.

 “We want more qualified ARBs to be included in the RSBSA,” RO 1 manager Raul Servito said.  “Thus, we should make more ARBs aware of this registry, and how they can benefit from being part if it.”

The RSBSA is an electronic compilation of basic information of farmers, farm workers, fishers, and other target agriculture-related beneficiaries of the DA. Their data are encoded in the farmers and fishery registry system managed by the DA Central Office.

It identifies who would be beneficiaries for different agriculture-related programs and services of the government, including the granting of free premium for agricultural insurance.

Attendees from the PCIC also discussed the importance of agriculture insurance.   

“We want more ARBs to avail of the free insurance premium. And we want more to have their crops and livestock insured given the extreme weather conditions we’ve been experiencing, which are prompted by climate change,” Servito added.

DAR officials, on the other hand, discussed the issues and concerns raised by ARBs in the provinces in Region 1.

Both agencies talked of ways to improve accessibility and implementation of agricultural insurance programs in the region.

Present in the meeting were PCIC Extension Office-La Union Supervisor Florence Agpawa, Lea Coloma of Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office I, and representatives from the different provincial Agrarian Reform offices.