(Eagle News)–President Bongbong Marcos has ordered the transfer of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. from the oversight of the Department of Finance to that of the Department of Agriculture.
In ordering the reorganization through Executive Order No. 60, the President noted that “a strong organizational link between the PCIC and DA is necessary to enhance agricultural insurance protection program highly responsive to the needs of small farmers and fisherfolk and other agricultural stakeholders..”
Under Republic Act No. 8175, or the Revised Charter of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) Act of 1995, the PCIC, a government-owned or -controlled corporation (GOCC), is tasked to provide insurance protection to farmers against losses arising from natural disasters, plant diseases, and pest infestation.
The DA, meanwhile, is mandated to promote the country’s agricultural development by providing policy framework, public investments, and support services necessary for the advancement of the agricultural sector.
According to the President, streamlining and rationalizing the functional relationships of agencies with complementary mandates are essential to fostering organizational coherence, efficiency, and cooperation within the bureaucracy.
Under the reorganization, the PCIC Board shall therefore now be composed of the presidents of the Land Bank of the Philippines and PCIC; executive director of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council; and one representative from the private insurance industry.
The representative from the private insurance industry shall be appointed by the President upon nomination by the Secretary of Finance.
Three representatives from the subsistence farmers’ sector, preferably representing agrarian reform beneficiaries, cooperatives or associations from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao shall also form part of the board and shall be appointed by the President upon their nomination by different farmer organizations and/or cooperatives.
The EO said the appointment or designation of the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and other officers of the board of directors shall be in accordance with RA No. 10149, or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011.
