Philippines Allocates Over $10 Million to Aid Farmers Hit by Typhoons Tino and Uwan
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The Philippine government has earmarked an initial $10.3 million (₱571.3 million) in insurance payouts to support farmers impacted by recent typhoons, as agricultural losses surge to $74.4 million (₱4.13 billion). The funds, administered through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), aim to provide immediate relief to those affected by Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan.
Mounting Agricultural Losses
Recent weather disturbances have inflicted significant damage on the Philippine agricultural sector. Data from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DRRM OpCen) indicates a total of 19.15 million metric tons of agricultural production have been lost across 43,882 hectares. These losses encompass a wide range of agricultural assets, including crops, livestock and poultry, fisheries, agricultural infrastructure, and machinery.
Insurance Coverage for Over 65,000 Farmers
The initial insurance payments will benefit 65,176 farmers cultivating rice and corn, as well as other high-value crops, across all 14 regions of the Philippines. The Bicol Region, particularly vulnerable to typhoons and home to the province of Catanduanes, faces the brunt of the damage, with 10,958 insurance claims totaling an estimated $2.15 million (₱119.4 million) in payouts.
“We have issued strict instructions to our regional staff to continue assisting farmers and speed up the processing of their damage claims,” a PCIC spokesperson stated.
Presidential Directive and Long-Term Resilience
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the immediate release of the insurance funds. This swift action underscores the government’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector during times of crisis.
Tiu Laurel also emphasized the growing necessity of crop insurance coverage in the face of increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events driven by climate change. “Hopefully, more of our agricultural stakeholders can be covered by the PCIC so the sector can better cope with disasters,” he said. The government recognizes that proactive risk management, through expanded insurance coverage, is crucial for building a more resilient agricultural sector in the Philippines.
