NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – The government and the private sector have taken joint measures to address armyworm infestation in corn and sugarcane fields in at least four local government units (LGUs) in the fifth district of Negros Occidental.
Among the affected areas are several villages in Isabela, Binalbagan and Moises Padilla as well as in Himamaylan City.
According to Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, is currently monitoring the extent of the damage where he reported the infestation to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
Together with Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) personnel, Yulo observed a demonstration on chemical infestation control in Sitio Iling-iling, Barangay Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City.
Meanwhile, an infestation was reported in cornfields in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan and in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, he added.
OPA head Dina Genzola said their staff is conducting an assessment and validation of the armyworm infestation in coordination with the affected local government units.
According to the DA, armyworms are devastating pests named for their army-like movement across agricultural fields and typically feed on turf grass, but will eat any plant in their path.
They can be controlled with neem oil-based sprays or with biological controls such as earwigs, spiders, and predatory wasps.
It added that the prolonged drought followed by heavy rains is the cause of the development of armyworms as shown in various studies.