The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) as of Monday has approved P4.857 million worth of protection claims due to drought covering an area of 592.41 hectares in Western Visayas. Data from the office of the PCIC here headed by its regional manager Charlito O. Brilleta disclosed that the approved claims would benefit 648 claimants from Western Visayas including Negros Occidental. So far Iloilo has the biggest approved claims totaling some P2.012 million covering 254.43 hectares with 253 farmer-claimants. Antique follows with P1.6 million total claims for 225 farmers covering 189.05 hectares. Other approved claims included that of 32 farmers covering 21.95 hectares amounting to P110,930 in Aklan; nine farmers with 12.20 hectares amounting to P53,857 in Capiz; 102 farmers for 93.17 hectares amounting to P910,436 in Guimaras; and 27 claimants from Negros Occidental covering 21.61 hectares amounting to P168,590. The claim for drought formed part of the P35.137 million approved claims by the PCIC as of March 28, 2016. These will benefit 6,344 farmers that filed claims for 5,940.89 hectares of farms in Western Visayas that suffered losses due to mixed causes. Source - interaksyon.com