CALAPAN, Oriental Mindoro— Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. on Thursday (November 14, 2024) led the distribution of indemnity checks issued by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) as payments to insured farmers and fisherfolk who were victims of recent typhoons.

PCIC Regional Office IV released a total P24.73 million in indemnity checks to 1,437 farmers and fisherfolk from the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro. The payments are part of government’s relief efforts following extensive damage caused by recent typhoons in the region.

Of the total indemnity, P16.046 million is intended for 918 beneficiaries in Occidental Mindoro, while P8.684 million is allocated to 519 affected farmers and fisherfolk in Oriental Mindoro. The compensation is designed to help them recover from damage to crops, fishing equipment, and other livelihood assets impacted by the storms.

PCIC’s swift action follows the series of typhoons that battered the provinces in recent weeks. The storms caused widespread destruction in areas that heavily depend on agriculture and fishing for economic survival. The indemnity checks provide critical financial relief for farmers and fisherfolk.

“The timely release of these indemnity payments is part of government’s commitment to immediately provide assistance to farmers and fisherfolk who suffered due to typhoons,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel.

PCIC emphasized the importance of crop insurance, particularly in regions prone to natural disasters like Mindoro. PCIC encourages farmers and fisherfolk to enroll in the program to safeguard their livelihood against future calamities.

The DA-Regional Field Office 4B also immediately delivered a total of P261 million worth of interventions to support affected farmers, consisting of financial assistance, hybrid rice seeds, hybrid and OPV (open-pollinated variety) corn seeds, fertilizer discount, and hauling trucks. ###