Farmers in Davao City are advised to enrol their crops with the Philippine Crops Insurance Corporation (PCIC) for free insurance coverage amid El Niño threat.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)- El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) projected that neutral conditions are expected to continue until June-July-August (JJA) 2023 season; however, an increased likelihood of a transition to El Niño in July-August-September (JAS) 2023 season and may persist until 2024.
The PCIC provides insurance protection to farmers against losses arising from natural calamities, plant diseases and pest infestations of palay and corn crops as well as other crops.
Pablita Almador, focal for rice of the City Agriculturist Office (CAO), said on Wednesday that farmers must be enrolled at the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) first to be qualified for PCIC.
RSBSA is a registry of farmers, fisherfolk, and farm laborers that serves as a targeting mechanism for the identification of beneficiaries for different agriculture-related programs and services of the government.
Almador said this is among the programs recommended by CAO in preparation for the looming El Niño phenomenon projected by PAGASA.
“Ang atoang close coordination sa Philippine Crops Insurance Corporation for free insurance sa atoang mga tanum. Atong ginaawhag ang mga mag-uuma nga magpa enrol sa PCIC labi na tung mga farmers nga enrolled pud sa registration system sa agricutlure sector kay ang mga mag-uuma na dili enrolled sa RSBSA maglisod ta ug pa enrol sa ilaha sa PCIC. Not necesarily organized, individual man ni ang pag rehistro sa RSBSA,” Almador said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.
She said personnel of CAO’s district offices will go to the barangays to cater to the farmers and enrol their existing plants to be insured.
Almador called on those farmers not enrolled yet to enroll at PCIC. Enrolment is also free of charge.
“Enrolment is free of charge from the government so ang mga farmers mag gahin lang sila ug time para makighinabi sa mga agricutlural technologists nga assigned didto sa ilahang barangay aron mapa enrol sila sa PCIC for a free crop insurance. Pero dapat ma- enrol usa ang farmer sa registry system meaning i-enrol sa siya as farmer sa listahan sa mag-uuma,” she said.
The CAO is also intensifying its information dissemination education communication campaign concerning to the effects of El Niño.
According to Almador, CAO is also closely coordinating with the barangays and non-government agencies on actions to be taken to alleviate the effects of the drought season.
“Prior sa occurrence sa El Niño nag-conduct mi ug intensive information dissemination education communication campaign kung unsa ang mahimong epekto niini ug unsa ang mga lakang na atoang buhaton. Naa tay close coordination sa atoang barangays kay sila ang direkta nga naa sa area ug sila ang nakahibalo kung unsa ka vulnerable ang agricultural areas sa Davao, non-government agencies kay kailangan nato ni sila para magpagaan ang epekto niini. Ang atoang mga barangay LGUs makatabang sila sa atoa sa pagsuporta saa atoang campaign sa community kung unsa ang atoang mga measures labi na sa mga cash crops like vegetables and corn,” she said.
Almador added that since PAGASA has already projected the drought season, CAO advised the farmers to change their cropping calendar.
“Kung sa karon na panahon naa pa ta sa neutral conditions of El Niño kung tan-aw nato puwede pa ta magtanum ug pila lang ka adlaw ma-harvest na, puwede,” she said.
Almador said that El Niño will have a significant effect in the city’s agriculture sector such as planting will be delayed, production may run out, lack of water supply which is important for production, it is possible that there will be an occurrence of pest diseases.
“Even sa atoang livestock and fishery maskin sa mga tao naa na siya effect ang init sa panahon kay daghan sakit na muabot,” she said.
Almador also emphasized the importance of water in case of dry season the reason why CAO asked the barangays to assist in identifying possible sources of water to irrigate plants.
“During sa monitoring mu-assist pud ang city on the extent sa damage sa El Niño sa crops even fishpond, assist in the rehabilitation sa irrigation facilities sa atoang area. Kailangan nato ang pagtambayayong sa barangay, other agencies, even private organizations,” she said.
CAO is closely coordinating with the seed companies for seeds and planting materials that can be use by the farmers for the rehabilitation phase after the El Niño.
