B’laan farmers get free insurance for their coconut farms

A total of 476 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of the B'laan tribe, from Bacong, Tulunan, were provided with free insurance coverage under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) in Cotabato province.

The free coconut farm insurance was made possible through a partnership between and among the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the PCIC.

Barangay Chairman Victor Acac is jubilant about the opportunity poured into their community and expressed his joy on behalf of his tribe for the great blessing and opportunity given to the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the area.

"This is the first time that many IPs were able to avail of the crop insurance benefits. I hope that this effort will continually be implemented in our barangay to encourage more ARBs to farm and get protected from the insurance benefits," Acac said.

Aside from the crop insurance, the B'laan people were also provided with life insurance with coverage ranging from Php20,000.00-Php100,000.00 providing them and their families financial security.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Luzel Marie Antes reported that aside from the B’laan ARBs, a total of 119 ARBs had also availed for the first time of life insurance benefits, which include accident and dismemberment security schemes.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Evangeline Bueno said the PCA's free insurance for the coconut farmers is in line with their plan under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development.

"DAR is closely collaborating with other government agencies such as the PCA, and PCIC to intensify the delivery of support services interventions to make the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)-covered lands productive, and to protect them or at least lessen the impact of risks and losses in their livelihood," Bueno said.

Bueno said that the DAR is grateful for the concerted efforts and synergy of government agencies in reaching out to far-flung areas and vulnerable communities of the province.