Pig insurance? There is, says Legazpi veterinary office

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) — The City Veterinary Office (CVO) here is encouraging hog raisers who have not registered yet with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) and the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) to soon enlist their swine for insurance coverage.

City Veterinary Officer Dr. Emmanuel Estipona, in an interview on Monday, said around 1,500 hog raisers had already registered, but more have yet to enlist.

“They should immediately register in order for them to avail of the insurance benefits for their pigs,” Estipona said.

Under the new insurance coverage scheme, he said, the PCIC would pay PHP10,000 per hog that is insured if it becomes ill.

“If a pig becomes infected with ASF (African swine fever) after it was placed under the insurance coverage, the owner could file a claim for the ill but covered hog,” Estipona said.

The PCIC provides ₱10,000 insurance cover per head of swine, on a premium payment of only 2.25% or ₱225.

However, small backyard hog raisers are given free insurance if they are listed in RSBSA.

The insurance coverage is different from the ASF indemnification claims, where beneficiaries are eligible for a ₱5,000 assistance per pig culled.

Hog raisers can simply apply for insurance via online through the DAPCIC website, or they can visit its 13 regional offices, 58 provincial extension offices, and 20 service desks.

The provincial, city or municipal agricultural officer or equivalent official in any locality may also be sought for assistance, he added.