QUEZON CITY -- The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) will ratchet up coverage of swine farmers in the second semester.

This was the commitment made by PCIC’s regional managers following a directive issued by PCIC president Jovy C. Bernabe in this regard during the agency’s online midyear operations review and planning workshop conducted from 28-29 July 2021.

The agency’s resolve comes on the heels of the launch of the Swine Repopulation, Rehabilitation, and Recovery (R3) Credit Program by the Department of Agriculture.   Implemented in partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines, R3 has some P12 Billion in loanable funds for Local Government Units and private companies over the next three years.  

R3 is expected to ramp up swine raising both at the backyard and corporate level. R3’s mother program, the Swine Repopulation, Rehabilitation and Recovery Program is the DA’s main measure to address the decrease in hog population in the wake of  the African swine fever  (ASF) disease that swept various areas of the country. 

In coordination with the DA’s Livestock Development Program, the PCIC has waived biosecurity level 1 requirement as a condition for the free insurance coverage of backyard hog raisers.

The PCIC now just requires certification made by the Provincial or Municipal Veterinarians that the production area is safe, and that the small hog raisers are allowed to start production. 

This new concession is the latest adjustment favoring swine farmers in the wake of the ASF problem.  Earlier, the PCIC Board of Directors approved the DA proposal to pay losses resulting from government-ordered culling or slaughter of insured hogs, and raise the payable amount up to 100 percent of the insurance cover or the total sum insured (TSI) less standard deductible.  (DA-PCIC)