Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero today encouraged farmers to enroll in insurance programs offered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), stressing that coverage is a vital safeguard against the threat of El Niño to cut yields and raise production costs.
“Insurance is one of the most practical shields our farmers can rely on in times of drought and crisis. I urge them to enroll so they can access protection and support when losses occur,” Escudero said.
The senator made the call following PCIC’s announcement that it has set aside P150 million in drought insurance for Western Visayas, with P100 million earmarked for rice and corn farmers and P50 million for high‑value crops and coconut growers.
Escudero linked the insurance push to his earlier proposal to tap the P30‑billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), created under Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, for long‑term interventions. He pointed to the P15‑billion allocation for “Other Priority Programs” that could be redirected to irrigation, credit, and productivity projects.
There are also other funds under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) this year that the government can tap to mitigate the effects of El Niño, including the P730.9 million allocation for small‑scale irrigation projects. The fund is intended for the construction, restoration, improvement, or installation of irrigation systems in accordance with the master plan approved by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“This allocation can be tapped to help farmers strengthen their resilience to El Niño. Short‑term aid is important, but we also need structural programs that strengthen production and give farmers the capacity to withstand drought and rising fuel prices,” he said.
“Ang mahalaga ay matulungan silang makabangon at makapagpatuloy sa produksyon, upang manatiling matatag ang ating suplay ng pagkain kahit sa gitna ng krisis,” he added.
As the nation continues to reel from the rising fuel costs due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, agriculture authorities continue to warn of a moderate to strong El Nino later this year, with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raising the likelihood of development to 79 percent by June.