Rat infestation in 7 Iloilo areas controlled

RAT infestation in six towns and one component city in Iloilo province had already been controlled, but it continues to affect other areas.

Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Elias Sandig Jr. identified the areas where rat infestation has been controlled as Lambunao, Calinog, Dingle, Barotac Viejo, Sara, Concepcion and the City of Passi.

Latest data from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) showed that rat infestation persists in 31 towns in the province, affecting 6,297 hectares of rice farms.

Affected areas are Oton, Leon, Alimodian, Sta. Barbara, Pavia, Leganes, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Pototan, Mina, Janiuay, Badiangan, Lambunao, Calinog, Passi City, San Enrique, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, Concepcion, Batad, Balasan, and Estancia.

Earlier, PAO sounded alarm over the rising cases of rat infestation in the province.

Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo, however, stressed that the infestation has a negligible effect on the province’s rice production.

Toledo does not recommend the use of rodenticides in killing rats as it may also kill other living organisms in the farms. He suggested the physical killing of rats.

Meanwhile, Toledo said heavy rains could have given a good effect since rats won’t survive in flooded rice paddies.

Nevertheless, he said the Provincial Government under the leadership of Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. has alerted all the agricultural technicians to continue monitoring and assist the farmers in confronting the situation. (PR)