Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) president, Atty. Jovy Bernabe, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the additional fund transfer of P19,239,880 by the province to the PCIC for the implementation of the crop insurance project for crop year 2021 onward.

The MOA signing was witnessed by PCIC-6 Regional Manager Eva Ulie Laud and Negros Occidental provincial agriculturist, Atty. Japhet Masculino.

Masculino said that it is a big help to farmers in mitigating the harmful effects of climate change and other natural calamities such as typhoons, floods, drought, earthquake, and volcanic eruption, as well as plant diseases and pest infestations.

The Negros First Crop Insurance Program, now on its tenth year of implementation, is a joint initiative between the provincial government and PCIC to insure agricultural crops in the province.

It was initiated to address the gaps in the agriculture sector and climate change that have been adversely affecting the crop production and threatening the state of food security in the province. Meanwhile, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist record showed that as of December 31, 2020, a total of 62,821 farmers with 72,806.16 hectares of farm have been insured. Out of the total farmers enrolled, 38,447 recipients had received indemnity claims amounting to P184,374,480, covering 40,712 hectares of damaged rice, corn and high value crops./WDJ