By Kenneth Marcos 
Under the midday heat in Davao del Norte, farmers lined up quietly, clutching documents that represented months of hard work lost to floods and pests. For many of them, the simple act of receiving a check meant hope—the chance to plant again after a difficult season.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation Regional Office 11 released more than ₱700,000 in indemnity payments to rice farmers in Davao del Norte whose crops were damaged by floods, stemborers, and rats. The payout was distributed to help affected farmers recover and prepare for the next planting season.
More than 100 farmers from the municipality of Braulio E. Dujali received indemnity checks, along with over 60 farmers from the municipality of Kapalong. Most of the beneficiaries are small-scale rice farmers who rely on a single cropping season for their household income.
According to PCIC officials, the claims covered crop losses caused by a combination of pest infestation and flooding, which are among the most common risks faced by rice growers in the province. Heavy rains and poor weather conditions in recent months worsened the damage, leaving many farmers with little to harvest.
Rice farmer Allan Gementiza said the indemnity came at the right time. “The indemnity is a big help to us farmers, especially to buy inputs that we need to plant again,” he said. Like many farmers in the area, Gementiza plans to use the funds to purchase seeds, fertilizer, and other basic farm inputs.
The distribution was led by PCIC Regional Office 11 Manager Rosalina Grabulan, together with Marketing and Sales Officer-in-Charge Kenneth Sunio and staff from the PCIC Extension Office in Tagum. They personally handed out the checks and reminded farmers of the importance of crop insurance in protecting their livelihood.
Grabulan said the indemnity payments show how crop insurance serves as a safety net for farmers, especially as climate risks and pest outbreaks become more frequent. She encouraged more farmers to insure their crops to reduce financial losses during unexpected disasters.
Davao del Norte is one of the key agricultural provinces in Region 11, producing rice, corn, bananas, and other high-value crops. However, farmers in the province remain vulnerable to extreme weather events, flooding, and pest infestations, which can wipe out months of labor in just a few days.
The PCIC, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, provides insurance protection to farmers against losses from natural calamities, pests, and diseases. Through indemnity payments, insured farmers are able to recover faster and continue food production, helping stabilize local food supply.
Local agriculture officials noted that timely indemnity releases also help prevent farmers from falling into debt or delaying replanting. When farmers are able to plant on time, the impact on food availability and prices is reduced.
As farmers in Braulio E. Dujali and Kapalong prepare their fields once more, the indemnity checks offer more than financial relief. They provide reassurance that support is available when risks turn into losses, and that farming, despite its challenges, remains a livelihood worth sustaining.
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