PBBM urges farmers, fishers to enroll in gov’t insurance programs

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday committed to protect farmers and fisherfolk against future calamities. In his speech during the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) in Isabela, President Marcos urged farmers and fisherfolk to enroll under the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s extensive insurance program. (PCO Photo)

MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday called on local farmers and fisherfolk to enroll in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) programs to help them recover from calamities.

During the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) in Cabagan, Isabela, Marcos stressed the importance of insurance programs to protect their sources of livelihood in times of calamities.

“Ito pong insurance na ito sa mga pananim o mga kagamitan sa pangingisda ay napakahalaga lalung-lalo na sa mga rehiyon na madalas tamaan ng bagyo o kalamidad (This insurance for crops or fishing equipment is very important, especially in regions that are often hit by typhoons or disasters),” Marcos said.

“Kaya po hinihikayat ko ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda na mag-enroll po sa programa na ito, ‘yung Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, upang masiguro po ang proteksyon ng inyong mga kabuhayan laban sa mga sakuna (That is why I urge our farmers and fisherfolk to enroll in this program, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, to ensure the protection of your livelihoods against disasters),” he added.

Marcos said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is expanding the insurance coverage for farmers and fisherfolk to ensure their preparedness and protection of their crops during disasters.

He noted that the DA earlier distributed indemnity checks amounting to nearly PHP25 million to over 1,000 insured Mindoro farmers and fisherfolk affected by the recent tropical cyclones.

Marcos also assured the farmers and fisherfolk of the government’s continued assistance to uplift their lives and boost their income.

He added that his administration is committed to modernizing and developing climate resilient agricultural processes and equipment.

“Sa kabila ng sunud-sunod na kalamidad, hindi po namin nakakalimutan ang aming prayoridad na maahon sa kahirapan ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang ating mga magsasaka (Despite the series of calamities, we do not forget our priority to lift our countrymen out of poverty, especially our farmers),” Marcos said.

“Napakahalaga po ng papel na ginagampanan [ninyo] sa pagsulong ng ating agrikultura, pagsiguro ng ating pagkain sa bawat hapag kainan at pagpapa-unlad para sa ating kinabukasan. Nandito po ang pambansang pamahalaan, katulong ang lokal na pamahalaan, upang humanap ng mga solusyon sa mga hamon [na] inyong kinakaharap (The role you play is very important in the advancement of our agriculture, securing our food for every dining table and our development for our future. The national government is here, with the help of the local government, to find solutions to the challenges you are facing).”

During the event, Marcos led the ceremonial distribution of 456 CLOAs and electronic titles for the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling Project benefitting 346 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Isabela province.

By virtue of Republic Act (RA) 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, Marcos also handed over 25,773 CoCRoMs to 21,496 ARBs in Isabela.

Through the CLOAs and CoCRoMs, the government assumes the debt of ARBs amounting to PHP1,152,916,073.

Marcos signed RA 11953 on July 7, 2023 to condone all loans, including interests, penalties and surcharges incurred by ARBs from previously awarded lands.

Around 600,000 farmers are said to benefit from RA 11953, covering more than 1.7 million hectares of agrarian reform lands nationwide.