The Department of Agriculture wants backyard and commercial hog raisers to secure insurance packages so they can recover part of their investments, in case their farms got infected with animal diseases, such as the African swine fever (ASF).
“As the DA intensifies efforts to encourage hog raisers to get back to business and, ultimately, help pork production rebound, availing of an insurance coverage is a prudent safety net for existing raisers and for those in ASF-free areas who will venture into this business,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.
Dar added that insurance will offer stronger security in protecting their livestock investments especially now with the threat of ASF around.
He underscored that the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) offers free livestock insurance.
“Do not hesitate to take advantage of the free livestock insurance offered by the DA’s PCIC. Regain your businesses and protect your livelihood,” he said.
The PCIC provides P10,000 insurance cover per head of swine, on a premium payment of only 2.25 percent or P225.
Small backyard hog raisers are given free insurance if they are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), the DA said.
PCIC president Jovy Bernabe, in a statement, said the insurance coverage is different from the ASF indemnification claims, where beneficiaries are eligible for a P5,000 assistance per pig culled.
Online application is accessible through the DA-PCIC website, or the applicant can visit any of its 13 regional offices, 58 provincial extension offices, or 20 service desks, Bernabe said.*PNA
