The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) has already released over PHP501 million in indemnity claims of 125,949 farmers from Western Visayas and Negros Occidental since January until the end of July this year.

Alicia Arnaldo, officer-in-charge for the Regional Manager of the PCIC Office in Western Visayas, said that they paid PHP242.19 million for farmers with losses due to pests because of drought, PHP87.68 million for floods and typhoons, PHP91.94 million for drought, and PHP57.53 million for diseases.

“The biggest goes to rice (palay) because that is our banner program. We have paid PHP154.46 million for 39,988 farmers,” she said.

The claims covered 76,704 notices of loss (NL) in the last quarter of 2024, and 49,245 farmers since January to July 31 this year.

Arnaldo added that the majority of the claimants were listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA); their premiums were covered free by the PCIC.

She encouraged farmers to always visit their municipal agriculture’s office to know about the program.

“It is important for them to have a fallback. But of course, we advise them to practice best farming practices,” she said, adding that PCIC will just come in to help if they have losses to at least compensate for the damage.

Meanwhile, she said that as of Tuesday, they have over PHP15.79 million ready for distribution to 4,105 NLs.

They will also accept NLs from farmers affected by tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, and the southwest monsoon until Aug. 14.

She added that they have already sent adjusters to the northern part of Iloilo to check on the losses of fisherfolk affected by the inclement weather.

“As much as possible, by the last week of August, we will be able to pay the notice of loss that we have adjusted,” she said. (PNA)