HUA HIN, Thailand – As it prepares to head the ASEAN Disaster Management Committee next year, the Philippine government has set its sights on putting in place the pilot tests for weather-based insurance for agriculture which may form part of its proposed program on disaster preparedness and management in the Southeast Asian region.

This developed as President Arroyo arrived here at 12:45 Saturday and immediately joined her counterparts in the scheduled working lunch of the ASEAN Plus Three.

She was set to meet Japan Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in bilateral talks in the afternoon.

Arroyo was reportedly forced to delay her trip for the 15th ASEAN Summit here by serious concerns over the threat of another devastation due to typhoon “Ramil.”

The President was expected to push for proposals for a region-wide disaster preparedness and management program, including the setting aside of recovery and relief fund for countries severely damaged by natural calamities.

Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano revealed that the Philippines may be expected to include among its proposals the setting up of weather-based insurance for the agriculture sector.