Eastern Visayas crop insurance claims expected to reach P3M

published January 26, 2011 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) has projected that claims for rice damage in Eastern Visayas due to recent floods could reach P3 million.

PCIC Regional Manager Crescensio V. Deligero, Jr. said that 438 farmers enrolled in the crop insurance program were affected by the recent calamity in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, and Northern Samar.

He said that about 500 hectares of insured ricefields were destroyed by rising waters.

"We will only pay a minimal amount since most of the flooded rice areas were newly planted," Mr. Deligero said in a recent interview.

Among the affected areas were the towns of Abuyog, Dulag, Javier, Julita, MacArthur, Mayorga, Sta. Fe, Kananga, Alangalang, and Dagami in Leyte; Hinundayan in Southern Leyte; San Jorge and Gandara in Samar; and San Roque in Northern Samar.

Of the affected towns, Abuyog recorded the highest insurance claim at P983,052 for damage in 223 hectares.

The report was compiled by the crop insurance agency from Jan. 3-17.
Mr. Deligero said he expected more farmers to apply for insurance coverage.

"The growing awareness of our farmers will help in our campaign to cover more farms in the region," he said.

Last year, PCIC released P9.42 million to 1,824 farmers in the region.

At the same time, he noted that the top cause of farm losses in the region is pest infestation, not calamities.

"Pest accounts for 55% or P5.14 million of our claims payment, while typhoon and flood represents only 16% or P1.51 million," Mr. Deligero said.

This has prompted PCIC to tie up with the Regional Crop Protection Center in order to minimize losses due to rice pests and diseases in the region.

"Pest and disease damage are preventable. But in view of various environmental factors that are conducive to the proliferation of rats, black bugs, tungro, rice blast and bacterial leaf blight, our farmers have failed to control such infestation despite measures," Mr. Deligero said.

Claims due to damage from the drought last year ranked next at P2.77 million or 29%. -- Sarwell Q. Meniano