ILOILO CITY, March 5 -- The provincial government of Iloilo has turned over PHP15 million to the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) as payment for the insurance premium of local farmers following the launching of the province's Sustainable Insurance of the Government for Upscaling and Revitalizing Agri-Fishery Development and Opportunity (SIGURADO) program on Tuesday.

"This is a frontline strategy of the province for El Nino when we have a problem with water and our farmers are affected. This is a shift in policy where we give our farmers access to the insurance," Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said in an interview.

He said it is better if they have it with a government insurer that assures them of bigger and better benefits onc...