The representative of the subsistence farmers’ sector in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) Board of Directors (BOD) has embarked on a dialogue with farmers and fisherfolk who are participant-beneficiaries of the agency’s agricultural insurance program.

Director Gina Terencio, a medical doctor and a farmer, started her provincial dialogue in Region I where she likewise led the release of indemnity checks worth ₱52 Million. The recipients were 1,509 farmers and hog raisers whose crops and livestock were affected by adverse weather and diseases.

“Ako po ay inatasan ng ating DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez na bumaba, upang alamin ang inyong mga concern sa PCIC,” Dir. Terencio told the farmer-beneficiaries from the provinces of La Union, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in separate forums from June 7 to 9. Secretary Dominguez chairs the PCIC BOD.

Dir. Terencio was joined by PCIC Regional Office (RO 1) Manager Raul Servito, and they jointly met with the farmers and distributed the indemnity checks.

Dir. Terencio emphasized the importance of crop insurance and encouraged farmers to avail of the free insurance offered by PCIC. She likewise expressed gratitude for their support to the PCIC.

Officials of the municipalities and provinces were on hand to assist in the activity. These included Caba Municipal Agriculturist Josephine Sobredo and Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council chair Oscar Pasibe; Sto. Domingo Mayor Bryan Dexter Tadena; Ilocos Sur Sangguniang Panlalawigan Agriculture Committee Chair and Board Member Efren Rafanan, Board Member Christopher Baterina, Provincial Agriculturist Erlinda Baltazar, and Provincial Veterinarian Donna Mae Rosario; Batac City Mayor Albert Chua, Vice Mayor Windell Chua, Irrigator’s Association President Rogelio R. Ceredon, City Agriculture Officer Mark Allan Abad; and Ilocos Norte City Veterinarian Robert Pontilan.

The other attendees were Municipal Agriculturist Josephine S. Sobredo and MAFC Chairman Oscar T. Pasibe of Caba, La Union; Sto. Domingo Municipal Mayor Bryan Dexter V. Tadena and Committee on Agriculture Chairman; Ilocos Sur Board Member Efren Rafanan, Board Member Christopher Baterina, Provincial Agriculturist Erlinda A. Baltazar, and Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Donna Mae C. Rosario; and Batac City Mayor Albert D. Chua, C Vice Mayor Atty. Windel D. Chua, Irrigator’s Association President Rogelio R. Ceredon, City Agriculture Officer Mark Allan Abad and City Veterinarian Dr. Robert Pontilan.