DAVAO CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Davao City facilitated the release of indemnity checks last April 20,Friday to 19 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) under the Agrarian Insurance Program (AIP) of the department in partnership with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
A total of P306,454.35 worth of indemnity payment were released to ARBs whose farms were directly affected by recent calamities that hit their farms and sources of livelihood last year.
The distribution of checks was led by Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Dennis G. Into together with Leonora Solidarios, the Insurance Adjuster from PCIC who represented PCIC XI Director Bonifacio Pales.
In her message, Solidarios told the recipient ARBs that the amount of indemnification depended on the actual damages in their farms based on the inspection and validation conducted by PCIC.
Based on their findings, she said that some ARBs will receive indemnification for as low as P1,000 while some to as high as P88,000.
The release of the indemnification was the first in the region where PCIC and DAR granted checks for individual ARBs engaged in banana production.
Solidarios also clarified that it took them seven months to process the papers before the checks were approved for release.
She said that all beneficiaries are now covered under PCIC even without registration to Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture or RSBSA.
“The office is waiting for the formal guidelines to be able to implement the said law”, Solidarios said.
The beneficiaries themselves will also undergo an orientation on how the amount of indemnity is computed for them to feel the actual support of the government in times of calamities.
The distribution of indemnity checks was also witnessed by Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) Ruel D. Larosa and Regina Isidor, Agrarian Reform Program Officer (ARPO), and Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Fraulein G. Montañez.
In his message, CARPO Larosa said that the beneficiaries were granted indemnity due to the damages on their crops brought about by a natural calamity that struck the area in September 2017.
He added that DAR and PCIC will also conduct a massive information campaign for on the insurance program for farmers.
One of the beneficiaries, Elena Tusay who received a check worth P88,000.00 expressed gratitude to DAR and PCIC saying that part of the money she received will be allotted for the payment of land amortization with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
She also thanked President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for strengthening the services and programs for the farmers through DAR, PCIC and other government entities.
Another ARB beneficiary, Samuel Ochea said that all the proceeds he received will be used for the development of his farms such as the purchase of planting materials and inputs.
During the distribution ceremony, PARPO Terso D. Gregorio Sr. made an instruction to the personnel of instructed PBD personnel to provide support and assistance to PHIC personnel who are conducting validations in the areas.
The national government has earmarked some P2.5 billion to PCIC for in 2017 pursuant RA 10651 as premium subsidy fund for the full 100 percent cost of insurance premiums for farmers and fisherfolk listed under the RSBSA. (Fraulein G. Montañez, PIO, DAR Davao City)
