Manila, March 11 -- An additional PHP1 billion fund is seen to insure more Filipino farmers nationwide, according to the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

"The budget preparation is ongoing right now. Our proposal actually is to increase it by PHP1 billion," PCIC President Jovy Bernabe told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of the partnership signing with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on Monday.

Bernabe said the fund to be requested, which will total to PHP7.5 billion, will further expand support and protection to Filipino food growers across the rice, corn, and high-value crops (HVC) sectors.

"Rule of thumb natin, kapag (Our rule of thumb is that with the) additional PHP1 b...