By Erwin Nicavera/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — A total of 44,690 farmers and fisherfolk in Negros Occidental benefited from almost PHP83 million worth of crop insurance premium subsidy in 2018.
Based on figures released by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), a total of PHP72.9 million went to those enrolled under the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) as of Friday.
The amount included almost PHP56.5 million for the crop sector covering 28,937 recipients of rice, corn, high-value crops and fishery insurance lines for 27,846.19 hectares.
A total of 6,051 recipients from the livestock sector covering 17,338 hectares of combined areas availed almost PHP15.8 million in subsidy while 438 fishermen were granted PHP690,400 under the non-crop insurance (NCI), particularly fishing boats.
Also, PHP9.8 million in crop insurance premium subsidy went to farmers and fisherfolk enrolled under Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP).
Included are almost PHP8.3 million availed of by 8,277 rice and corn farmers, with a total area of 9,772.50 hectares, and PHP1.5 million for 987 farmers under the NCI.
Jose Ma. Torres, head of PCIC-Negros Occidental Provincial Extension Office, said the amount of utilized premium subsidy only covered those who availed of it through the NFUCIP and RSBSA.
The NFUCIP is being implemented by the PCIC, in partnership with the Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, while RSBSA is under the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Torres said the premium subsidy, particularly for rice and corn, is 10 percent of the total “amount of cover” or the value that can be claimed by enrolled farmers and fisherfolk.
“The national government is paying the PCIC for the insurance premium subsidy. The fund is downloaded by the DBM,” he added.
