2.7K get free insurance coverage

LAOAG CITY -- A total of 2,740 farmers and fisherfolk in Ilocos Norte will get free crop and life insurance coverages, courtesy of the provincial government and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).

Since July 11, provincial agriculture office field workers have been reaching out to registered farmers and fisherfolk associations across the province to brief target beneficiaries.

The life insurance premium, worth PHP375 per

beneficiary, will be shouldered by the Ilocos Norte government.

This year, the provincial government has allocated more than PHP1 million for the life insurance program to cover the highly vulnerable sector. The PCIC will also insure the program beneficiaries’ crops, fish harvest, and livestock.

“The insurance program will be of great help to our farmer and fisherfolk beneficiaries since it guarantees that they can recoup farm losses that they may incur due to natural calamities,” said Dr. Luz Tabora, officer-in-charge of the provincial agriculture office on Friday.

Tabora said the insurance program covers farmers’ crops damaged by diseases, infestations, and natural calamities, such as typhoons, floods, droughts, tornados, and earthquakes.

Ilocos Norte has in the past few days experienced moderate to heavy rainfall brought about by Tropical Storm Falcon.

This has answered the prayer of farmers who had been longing for rain so they could start planting rice again after the dry season.

To date, an estimated 19,709 hectares out of 51,273 hectares of irrigated rice lands in the province have been planted while most farmers in rain-fed areas take advantage of the amount of rainfall to start planting anew.(PNA)