The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) said Tuesday it will release some P251 million to compensate 32,247 insured farmers for losses caused by Typhoon Tino as part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) wider recovery efforts.
The total estimated insurance payment amounts to about P250.6 million, according to PCIC president Jovy Bernabe. Damages were valued at P56.7 million for rice, P42.3 million for corn and P74.3 million for high-value crops.
A rapid assessment conducted between Nov. 4 and 7 covered insured farms across nine regions, from Region IV-A and IV-B through Caraga.
The largest share of insured losses, amounting to P169.9 million, was recorded in Central Visayas, Negros Island Region and Eastern Visayas. Nearly a third, or 10,352 farmers, were from Region VIII in Eastern Visayas, which includes the provinces of Biliran, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte.
Bernabe said PCIC personnel were directed to continue assisting affected farmers and expedite the processing of claims.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the PCIC’s assessment is part of the DA’s efforts, which also include providing seeds, fingerlings and feeds to help farmers and fisherfolk recover more quickly.
“The President is doing everything to ease the burden on Tino’s victims, especially our farmers and fisherfolk,” Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
The DA also activated its Quick Response Fund (QRF) and Survival and Recovery Loan Program to further assist affected agricultural communities.
 will pay an estimated P251 million to over 32,000 farmers insured against losses from Typhoon Tino, supporting the Department of Agriculture's recovery efforts.){kind=link}