The Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging backyard and commercial hog raisers to secure insurance packages from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to recover part of their investments in case their farms are affected by the African swine fever (ASF).
“As the DA intensifies efforts to encourage hog raisers to get back to business and ultimately, help pork production rebound, availing of an insurance coverage is a prudent safety net for existing raisers and for those in ASF-free areas who will venture into this business,” said DA Secretary William Dar in a statement.
The PCIC included ASF among the risks covered by its livestock insurance as early as 2019.
It provides P10,000 insurance cover per head of swine on a premium payment of only 2.25 percent or P225.
However, small backyard hog raisers are given free insurance if they are listed in the registry system for basic sectors in agriculture.
The DA also clarified the insurance coverage is on top of the ASF indemnification claims where beneficiaries are eligible for a P5,000 assistance per pig culled.
“Hog raisers can simply apply for insurance via online through the DA-PCIC website, or they can visit its 13 regional offices, 58 provincial extension offices and 20 service desks.
The provincial, city or municipal agricultural officer or equivalent official in any locality may also be sought for assistance,” said Jovy Bernabe, PCIC president.
