THE Commission on Audit has slammed delays in the settlement of indemnity claims of 80,763 farmers and fisherfolks in six regions who suffered losses in the form of crops, livestock, and equipment destroyed by calamities.
State auditors said the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) failed to meet the recommended timetable for the payment of claims totaling P540.75 million that were supposed to help agriculture and fisheries to recover fast from natural disasters, plant diseases, or infestation.
Based on the tracking of PCIC payments, rice farmers suffered the worst with 41,186 claimants having to wait between one to 747 days or more than two years to collect indemnification amounting to P302.44 million.
The list showed 3,638 livestock breeders had to wait one to 742 days before receiving P45.038 million in payment.
The other claimants’ groups wer: 22,638 high value crop farmers (P110.714 million) one to 610 days; 12,162 corn farmers (P66.175 million) between one to 604 days; 3,636 livestock breeders (P45.038 million) one to 742 days; 413 non-crop claims (P7.495 million) one to 520 days; 472 fisheries folks (P4.97 million) one to 434 days; and 254 credit and life term insurance claims (P3.92 million) one to 717 days.
The audit team said the lengthy delays defeated the purpose of providing “speedy/timely assistance to farmers and fisherfolks” in the restoration of their livelihood.
A breakdown of the settlement attached to the audit report showed Region 4 (Southern Tagalog) had the biggest claims totaling P292.069 million; Region 5 (Bicol Region) with P101.687 million; Region 1 (Ilocos Region) with P69.856 million; Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) with P41.347 million; Region 11 (Davao del Norte) with P30.608 million; and Region 3A with P5.182 million.
