PROVINCIAL Agriculturist Japhet Masculino has assured that the Fall Armyworm (Faw) infestation in Negros Occidental is not alarming.
The latest data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed that about three hectares of corn in Escalante City has been affected by the infestation.
In the meeting conducted by the provincial task force and surveillance team of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas, it was reported that six local government units (LGUs) in the province are affected.
The other five localities are La Carlota City, La Castellana, Pontevedra, Himamaylan City, and San Carlos City.
Masculino said he is confident that the infestation will soon be controlled as long as spraying of insecticides in the affected areas continues.
Only four areas noted an “impact” of the infestation to the crops, he added.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has already created a task force to immediately address the possible adverse effects of the pest.
Faw attacks rice, corn, soybeans, sugarcane, and some vegetables.
According to the governor’s instruction, there is a “critical need” to ensure preparedness and strengthen pest surveillance and management activities in the province.