IN PHOTOS: Regional Director Arnel V.

de Mesa met with Agricultural Credit Policy Council-Program

Monitoring and Information Management Staff Director Cristina G. Lopez and Philippine Crop Insurance
Regional Manager Marissa F. Agudera, today February 3, 2020, to discuss specific mechanics on the
implementation of a new cash assistance program for small farmers and fisherfolk affected by Taal
volcano eruption who need to take a break from tending their farm animals for the time being.

The said program aims to save livestock (i.e. small and big ruminants, horses) from being sold to
unscrupulous traders at very low price, preserve the local livestock genetics integrity in the affected
areas, and ensure that the livestock-based livelihood and enterprises of small farmers can be re-
established and recover when the situation normalizes.

According to Director de Mesa, the LGUs, through their respective City or Municipal Agriculturist Office
in coordination with their Provincial Agriculturist, will play a very important role for the smooth
implementation of this program. That said, a coordination meeting with them will be held tomorrow,
February 4, 2020, to present the initial guidelines and to discuss their significant role to realize the
objectives of the program.