Agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from eleven (11) ARB organizations (ARBOs) in the province of Romblon attended a comprehensive training on the Agricultural Insurance Program to sustain and protect their crops held at Harbour Chateau, Poctoy, Odiongan, Romblon.

OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Camilo Claro M. Pacquing said the knowledge they obtained from the training will greatly help the needs of the ARBs in the protection of their crops.

“Together, we are making strides towards a more sustainable and secure future for our ARBs and ARBOs,” he said.

John David F. Ang, Provincial Coordinator from the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) encouraged all ARBs to enlist themselves under the RSBS, a database system implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to enable the farmers, fishermen, and agri-fishery-related services to avail of various government assistance programs.

Among the benefits the ARBs can get when they register under the system are assistance provided by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) and the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

PCIC representatives Emmylou T. Pascual and Rose Bell A. Carasco shared invaluable insights that the PCIC provides, including insurance coverage of farmers’ crops damaged by diseases, pest infestation, and natural calamities, such as typhoons, floods, drought, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and climate change.

The insurance coverage is not limited to damaged crops but also the lives of insured farmers and members of their families.

The PCIC has partnered with the DAR and provided a total of P17.1 billion worth of crop insurance protection to ARBs over the next two cropping seasons.

The eleven ARBOs include: the Maghali Auto-Savings Group, Longon-Camili Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Magsupot Traders Association Incorporated, Oswag-Carmen Mabinuligon Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Palate-Maambong Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Villamor Estate Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Agpudlos, Balogo Agrarian Reform Cooperative, JMP Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, and Agra-Progreso Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Magdiwang Agrarian Reform Cooperative.

Dumalo ang mga agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) mula sa labing-isang ARB Organizations (ARBOs) sa lalawigan ng Romblon sa isang komprehensibong pagsasanay sa Agricultural Insurance Program upang mapanatili at maprotektahan ang kanilang mga pananim na ginanap sa Harbour Chateau, Poctoy, Odiongan, Romblon.

Ayon kay OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Camilo Claro M. Pacquing, malaki ang maitutulong ng kaalaman na kanilang nakuha sa pangangailangan ng mga ARB sa pangangalaga ng kanilang mga pananim.

“Sama-sama, gumagawa tayo ng mga hakbang tungo sa isang napapanatili at ligtas na kinabukasan para sa ating mga ARB at ARBO,” aniya

Hinikayat ni John David F. Ang, Provincial Coordinator mula sa Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) ang lahat ng ARB na magpalista sa ilalim ng RSBS, isang database system na ipinatupad ng Department of Agriculture (DA) upang mapagkalooban ang mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at serbisyong pang agrikultura ng iba't ibang tulong programa ng pamahalaan.

Kabilang sa mga benepisyong makukuha ng ARBs kapag sila ay nagparehistro sa ilalim ng sistema ay ang tulong na ibinibigay ng Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) at ng Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Ibinahagi ng mga kinatawan ng PCIC na sina Emmylou T. Pascual at Rose Bell A. Carasco ang napakahalagang tulong na ibinibigay ng PCIC, kabilang ang saklaw sa pagseseguro sa mga pananim ng mga magsasaka na nasira ng mga sakit, pamumugad ng peste, at natural na kalamidad, tulad ng mga bagyo, baha, tagtuyot, buhawi, lindol, pagsabog ng bulkan, at pagbabago ng klima.

Ang saklaw ng seguro ay hindi limitado sa mga nasirang pananim kundi pati na rin ang buhay ng mga nakasegurong magsasaka at mga miyembro ng kanilang pamilya.

Nakipagtulungan ang PCIC sa DAR at nagbigay ng kabuuang P17.1 bilyong halaga ng crop insurance protection sa mga ARB sa susunod na dalawang panahon ng pananim.

Kabilang sa labing-isang ARBO ang: Maghali Auto-Savings Group, Longon-Camili Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Magsupot Traders Association Incorporated, Oswag-Carmen Mabinuligon Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Palate-Maambong Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Villamor Estate Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Agrarian Reform Kooperatiba ng Agpudlos, Balogo Agrarian Reform Cooperative, JMP Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, at Agra-Progreso Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Magdiwang Agrarian Reform Cooperative.