The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (DA-PCIC) has relaxed conditions for compensating hog raisers for their losses under its hog insurance program.
In its regular meeting Wednesday, Feb. 24, the PCIC Board of Directors approved the Agriculture department’s proposal to pay losses resulting from government-ordered culling or slaughter of insured hogs, as well as to raise the payable amount of up to 100 percent of the insurance cover or the total sum insured (TSI).
These enhanced insurance policy features for hog raisers will remain in place until such time that the industry has stabilized, or a vaccine or other veterinary solution has been developed for African Swine Fever (ASF).
“Bold policy actions are needed in periods of adversity like the hog industry is in now, and we thank the PCIC for this quick response that sends the message the DA and its family of agencies are here to help our stakeholders, particularly the hog industry, build resilience and sustainability,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said.
The move is expected to help encourage the raising of over 10 million heads of swine among commercial and backyard raisers. The stocks to be insured will be a mix of fatteners and breeders, including grandparent stock, among the former; and fatteners and breeders, among the latter.
Backyard hog raisers currently receive free insurance, provided they are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA)--the country’s database of bona fide subsistence farmers and fisherfolk. However, they will still be covered by the relaxed provision on indemnity payment and culling or emergency slaughter.
Moreover, the Board directed the PCIC to increase the number of backyard hog raisers to be provided with insurance coverage.
The PCIC will require commercial and backyard raisers to adhere to prescribed biosafety protocols including cleaning, disinfecting, and training in biosafety measures as contained in the DA Administrative Order No. 6, titled “Guidelines on the Implementation of the Recovery, Rehabilitation and Repopulation Assistance Program for ASF-affected and Non-ASF Affected Areas.” It was issued last Feb.6.