Hog raisers in Bukidnon should take advantage of the better insurance being offered by the PCIC.

PCIC Regional Office 10 Manager Charlito Brilleta told swine farmers in Bukidnon that under the swine insurance program they will receive a higher indemnity in case their stock becomes inflicted with the African Swine Fever (ASF).  He talked to the  attendees of the Farmer’s Day held at Kimbawe, Bukidnon on July 30 2021.

Brilleta said that the swine industry insurance program offers free premium payments for backyard raisers and discounted premium for commercial hog raisers, and increased indemnity payments for culled hogs.

“Hog raisers don’t have to pay the insurance premium, as long as they are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). Commercial swine raisers, on the other hand, are given a discount on the premium,” Brilleta said.

The insurance covers ₱10,000 per head for fatteners, ₱14,500 per head for breeders, and ₱34,000 per head for parent stocks.

Moreover, PCIC provides 1.75% premium for fatteners and 3.5 percent for breeders, which are waived as free. Commercial farmers pay the same premium rates, discounted from the regular rates of 2.25% and 4%, for their stocks to be covered.

Given this, Brilleta encouraged hog farmers to avail of the swine insurance program, to protect their investments from calamities and diseases.

Philippine Statistics Authority Survey in 2020 showed that Region 10 has a total of 1,059,320 swine comprising 604,132 from backyard farms and 455,188 from commercial farms.

Backyard swine farms in Bukidnon had contributed 212,946 heads in the region, while 397,653 were traded from commercial farms.

In February, DA-Northern Mindanao confirmed ASF cases in Barangay Jampason, Initao and Barangay Pajawan, Manticao in Misamis Oriental, and Barangays Mambuaya and San Simon in Cagayan de Oro. On the other hand, there was no reported case in Bukidnon.

The Farmers’ Day was organized by Kibawe Municipal Agriculturist Remedios Tocanao.

Bukidnon Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Nancy Diez, and Engr. Arlene Almo of Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center were also present and discussed their office’s respective programs, with emphasis on initiatives addressing the ASF.