Governor Faustino G. Dy III on Sunday said the provincial government has extended more than P100 million for insurance benefits to south Isabela farmers.

He said the beneficiaries were small farmers from the municipalities of Jones, Echague, San Isidro, Ramon, Cordon, San Agustin and Dinapigue, all in the 4th Congressional District.

According to Dy, the insurance covers accidental deaths and hospitalization along with protection of crops from calamities like floods, typhoons and the El Niño phenomenon in which farmers are enrolled with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

In a statement during the Farmers Congress in Echague town last week, Dy said interest-free loans are made available to planters among the beneficiaries.

“The Philippine National Bank in partnership with the provincial government will extend P5,000 interest-free, to qualified farmers as well as ambulant vendors,” he said.

PCIC provincial head Arnold Te said applicants must form groups accredited by the local government subject to screening by the Cooperative Development Authority.

Dy said at least 53 Echage farmers are already covered by PCIC even as the animal dispersal program is expanded under the provincial veterinary office with the launching of its “Paiwi ni Bro” to distribute piglets, goats, calves, ewe, carabaos and chicken with a P3,000-feed subsidy for every participating household.

Source - http://manilastandardtoday.com/