Subsidized insurance for farmers mulled

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) Pampanga Branch Manager Romeo Gonzales said Thursday they are open to the possibility of entering into an agreement with the Provincial Government for subsidizing insurance premiums of farmers.

This came as Governor Lilia Pineda met Gonzales and other members of the Regional Management Council (RMC) of the Department of Agriculture headed by Regional Director Redentor Gatus.

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Pineda said she would like to send a strong message to the more than 25,000 farmers in the province that her administration is sincere in helping them particularly in the provision of free palay seeds, organic fertilizers and the acquisition of new technology in planting.

The proposed agreement will cover 25,000 hectares of farmlands (one hectare per farmer) amounting to almost P32.5 million to cover the wet and dry season insurance needs.

“Gusto ko kasing maramdaman ng lahat ng mga magsasaka sa Pampanga ang tulong na galing sa kanilang pamahalaang panlalawigan. Kasi naririnig ko na hindi man lang nila alam na may ayuda,” Pineda said.

Aside from the crop insurance, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) also vowed support to the governor for the provision of organic and synthetic fertilizers to increase farmers’ produce.