• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Armyworms continue to wreak havoc in corn and sugarcane plantations, affecting 40 barangays in 10 towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
As of June 27, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported that 558.23 hectares of sugarcane plantations and cornfields in Himamaylan City, Isabela, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Ilog, Kabankalan City, Cauayan, Murcia and La Castellana were damaged by armyworms, affecting 663 farmers.
Cutworms also attacked banana tree plants in Barangay Camang-Camang, Isabela, the OPA report said.
Nilo Basco Jr., head of the OPA Crop Protection Section, said that they are now validating claims on damage declared by local government units on pest infestation.
The spraying of pesticides in affected areas, in tandem with partner agencies, continues, he added.
The 40 barangays affected by pest infestation are the villages of Mahalang, Talaban, Poblacion II, San Antonio, Carabalan, Caradio-an, Libacao and Mambagaton in Himamaylan City; Barangay 9, Makilignit, Mansablay, Camang-Camang and San Agustin in Isabela; Santol and Bi-ao in Binalbagan; and Macagahay, Quintin Remo Inolingan and Crossing Magallon in Moises Padilla.
Others are Tabu in Ilog; Hilamonan, Magballo, Tagoc, Binicuil, Camansi, Orong, Tapi, Bantayan, Inapoy, Tagukon, Oringao and Tabugon in Kabankalan City; Puso in La Castellana; Tambad in Cauayan; Amayco, Buenavista, Canlandog, Minoyan, San Miguel and Pandanon in Murcia. | GB
