The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) has released an initial P24.4 million in indemnification checks to thousands of farmers in the Bicol region affected by intense flooding caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

PCIC President JB Jovy Bernabe said the agency provided insurance payments to 2,644 farmers across the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

Bernabe said the indemnification reflects the government’s commitment to supporting rural farmers through insurance and financial aid, aiming to help them recover from natural disasters and sustain the nation’s food security and economic stability.

DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. personally handed out the checks during President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s visit to the Bicol Region on Wednesday, where he assessed relief and recovery efforts in typhoon-hit areas.

Laurel had previously directed PCIC to expedite insurance payments, stressing the need for swift support to enable farmers to recover from the devastation brought by Kristine.

“We need to equip our farmers and fishermen with financial resources to help them quickly get back on their feet to recover from this disaster brought about by climate change,” he said.

Bernabe noted that preliminary assessments indicate total indemnification payments could reach at least P666.5 million.

Additionally, the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center reported that the department is providing P541.02 million in recovery inputs, such as seeds and fertilizers, to assist affected farmers.

As of Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that combined damages from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon have reached P4.8 billion, with the Bicol Region’s agricultural sector suffering approximately P2.9 billion in losses.