The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in Negros Occidental on Thursday urged farmers who incurred losses brought by Tropical Storm Dante to file for indemnity claims under the province’s crop insurance program. Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino issued the call as his office’s final report on Wednesday afternoon showed a total of PHP19.6 million in crop damage and losses among affected farms across the province. “They just have to file notices of loss so we can assess and validate their farms for insurance coverage,” he said in a statement. Data showed that 1,113 rice, corn and high-value crops farmers with combined areas of 1,077.31 hectares in 92 barangays of 13 local government units have reported losses, following the heavy rains and floods last week. In the rice sector alone, losses were pegged at PHP18.57 million, with Hinoba-an reporting the highest amount at PHP3.58 million, affecting 114 farmers with 145.20 hectares. Other areas with reported damage and losses included San Enrique, 142 farmers, at PHP2.96 million; Valladolid, 82 farmers, PHP2.82 million; Himamaylan City, 187 farmers, PHP2.75 million; Moises Padilla, 51 farmers, PHP1.70 million; Bago City, 256 farmers, PHP1.16 million; and Cadiz City, 36 farmers, PHP1 million. Also, Binalbagan reported losses worth PHP601,640; Isabela, PHP486,038; Victorias City, PHP458,025; La Carlota City, PHP410,800; Pontevedra, PHP391,185; and E.B. Magalona, PHP236,005. Meanwhile, some 37 corn farmers with 13 hectares of planted area in Binalbagan and Isabela incurred about PHP1.02 million worth of losses while those planting high-value crops in Cadiz City reported PHP86,725 worth of damage. Under the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program, being implemented by the provincial government in partnership with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), enrolled farmers can avail a PHP17,000 claim per hectare of damaged farms. Enrollees should apply for insurance before planting and farms covered by the program are those planted for not less than 25 days. Enrollment premium per cropping season is shouldered by the provincial government as a loan. For crops, the amount is PHP840 per farmer. Including life insurance, the province pays PHP1,175 in enrollment premium per farmer to the PCIC. Source - https://www.pna.gov.ph