President Marcos transfers crop insurance corporation to DA

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has transferred the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) from the Department of Finance (DOF) to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and has made changes to its composition as part of the government’s efforts to ensure food security and to promote the welfare of farmers.

According to Marcos, streamlining and rationalizing the functional relationships of agencies with complimentary mandates is “essential to fostering organizational coherence, efficiency and cooperation within the bureaucracy.”

“A strong organizational link between the PCIC and DA (Department of Agriculture) is necessary to enhance agricultural insurance protection program highly responsive to the needs of small farmers and fisherfolk and other agricultural stakeholders, with policies and programs aimed at ensuring food security and modernization of the agricultural sector,” the President said in Executive Order (EO) 60.

Under the EO, the PCIC, which was formed in 1978 through Presidential Decree 1467, is attached to the DA for policy and program coordination.

The PCIC Board now consists of the presidents of the Land Bank of the Philippines and PCIC, the executive director of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, one representative from the private insurance industry appointed by the President upon nomination by the finance secretary.

The board will also have three representatives from the subsistence farmers’ sector, preferably representing agrarian reform beneficiaries, cooperatives or associations, who will be appointed by the President upon their nomination by different farmer organizations or cooperatives.

The naming of the chairperson, vice-chairperson and other officers of the board of directors shall be in accordance with the Government Owned or Controlled Corporations Governance Act of 2011, the EO said.

Before the issuance of the EO, the state-run corporation’s board is composed of the DOF secretary, who served as its chairperson; the DA secretary, its vice chairperson; the presidents of PCIC, Land Bank of the Philippines and Government Service Insurance System; and one representative of subsistence farmers.

The PCIC was established to provide insurance protection to farmers against losses arising from natural disasters, plant diseases and pest infestation.

The Administrative Code of 1987, meanwhile, mandates the DA to promote the Philippines’ agricultural development through policy framework, public investments and support services needed to advance the agriculture sector.