BUTUAN CITY — An Agusan del Norte legislator has filed a measure seeking to provide comprehensive insurance protection to all agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), aiming to shield farmers from the many risks inherent in agricultural production.
On Wednesday, Agusan del Norte Rep. Dale Corvera filed House Bill No. 6951, which seeks to grant full insurance coverage to ARBs against losses caused by natural calamities, plant diseases, pest infestations, and accidental injuries.
“Ownership or control of land alone does not shield our agrarian reform beneficiaries from the inherent risks of agriculture,” Corvera said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.
The proposed measure introduces amendments to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, mandating insurance coverage for compensable agricultural losses. Under the bill, coverage would include damages resulting from typhoons, floods, droughts, and other disasters, as well as losses caused by identified plant diseases and pests.
The bill also seeks to insure loss of life or physical injury arising from farming-related incidents and to protect both agricultural produce and non-crop farm assets, ensuring broader financial security for farmers.
Corvera, a member of the House Committee on Agrarian Reform, said the proposed insurance program would play a crucial role in reducing rural poverty, protecting the gains of land reform, and strengthening national food security.
“Land reform is not just about distributing land to the landless,” Corvera emphasized. “It is about empowering farmers to become productive, resilient, and self-reliant contributors to national development.”
NPO News Team | PNA–PR
