In a move to safeguard the livelihoods of its livestock farmers, the Batac City government in Ilocos Norte is promoting a free insurance program for registered livestock raisers. The initiative, announced on January 15, 2025, targets members of the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) and is facilitated through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). Mayor Albert Chua highlighted the availability of insurance for various animals including cattle, carabaos, horses, goats, and sheep via the City Veterinary Office.
The insurance, which comes at no cost to the farmers, covers up to 10 heads of cattle, carabaos, or horses aged between 7 months and 17 years, and up to 25 heads of goats or sheep aged from 4 months to 7 years. The PCIC has noted an increase in farmers utilizing this program, with some receiving between PHP25,000 to PHP35,000 in compensation during calamities.
While other local government units in the province also offer premium crop insurance, uptake remains low. Provincial Board Member Jonathan Torralba, who chairs the agriculture committee, urged farmers to engage with their municipal agriculture offices post-planting season to access these benefits. He emphasized the importance of insurance after reports of early rainfall damaging newly planted tobacco crops.
In the previous year, insured farmers recovered 50-60% of their losses from natural disasters. Torralba stressed that insurance is crucial for protecting agricultural investments. In 2024, the PCIC allocated PHP4.5 billion for insurance coverage nationwide, with Region 1 receiving PHP300 million.