ILOILO CITY – An initial P15 million has been released to ease the impact of the El Niño phenomenon to farmers and fisherfolk in Iloilo province.

A CHECK for P15 million was released to assist farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño phenomenon in Iloilo province. (Capitol PIO)
The Iloilo provincial government partnered with the Philippine Crops Insurance Corp. (PCIC) for the Sustainable Insurance from the Government for Upscaling and Revitalizing the Agri-fisheries Developments and Opportunities (SIGURADO) program.
Chief Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Ildefonso Toledo said the program provides each farmer or fisherfolk P2,000 in insurance premium to enable them to avail of financial aid amounting to P20,000.
Toledo said SIGURADO is only for farmers and fisherfolks who are not included in the PCIC's Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RBSA).
“This is better than giving them small amounts of assistance, our farmers and fisherfolks could avail of more benefits under this program,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor after the turn over of a check for P15 million to PCIC President Atty. Jovy Bernabe.
Defensor said that the amount is only the first phase of assistance.
Another P10 million will be released as additional aid and will be from the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).