AMULUNG,
CAGAYAN,
October 10, 2013-The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the PhilippineCrop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) distributed crop loss indemnity checks in
favor of 161 affected agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who have availed of
the DAR-PCIC Agrarian Reform Beneficiary-Agricultural Insurance Program
(ARB-AIP) in Amulung, Cagayan, Cagayan province.
According to Virgilio M. Acasili,
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) of Cagayan-Batanes offices
(DARPO-Batanes has been annexed to DARPO-Cagayan), they distributed crop loss
indemnity checks for Amulung town with a total amount of Php1,451,843.00 in
favor of the 161 agrarian reform farmer-beneficiaries whose corn crops were
destroyed by the recent drought. Also present during the distribution of crop
loss indemnity checks were Atty. Marjorie P. Ayson, DAR Regional Director,
Atty. Nicanor de Leon, Mayor of Amulung and other LGU officials who assisted
the PCIC staff during the activity.
Crop loss indemnity payments were
also made earlier to farmers in the municipalities of Alcala, Gattaran, Lasam,
Solana, Sto. Nino and Tuao.
In Cagayan province, some 718.98
hectares of corn cultivated by 449 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) were
destroyed by the recent draught, which prompted the payment of indemnity
amounting to Php5,354,721.97 for the whole province.
The ARB-AIP is a P17.1 billion
crop insurance coverage plan nationwide between the DAR and PCIC, an attached agency
of the Department of Agriculture (DA), wherein the DAR provides a premium
subsidy worth P1 billion.
The insurance program benefits
agrarian reform beneficiaries who are members of agrarian reform beneficiary
organizations (ARBOs). It provides protection for over 224,000 enrolled ARBs
and members of their households who are farming around 330,000 hectares of land
and raising approximately 30,700 farm animals.
It is a safety net for ARBs
against losses caused by crop pests, diseases, losses from damage of farm
machineries and also from the
devastating unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change.
In addition, an ARB covered under
the program shall receive protection against loss of life or limbs under an
Accident and Dismemberment Security Scheme. /christiandsales
