The Himamaylan City government is reactivating its Barangay Bantay Peste Brigade in response to the fall armyworm infestation affecting its sugarcane farms and cornfields.
The city government conducted a joint meeting the with the Association of Barangay Captains and City Agriculture Office (CAO) to reactivate the anti-pest program on Thursday, June 27, a press release said on Friday.
Himamaylan City is utilizing its third and fourth quarter Crop Protection Program budget for its pest control efforts.
“We are fast tracking the processing of requests before the infestation spreads to more agricultural areas in Himamaylan,” Mayor Raymund Tongson said.
Barangay officials are also slated to undergo a training course for pest and diseases identification and management, he added.
The Himamaylan government has also requested the Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) to use a drone for massive spraying of affected farms and areas.
A total of 64.65 hectares of cornfields in three barangays were hit by armyworms affecting the livelihood of 124 farmers as of June 21, the press release said.
The CAO is monitoring the daily situation in the affected areas, Tongson said.
The Himamaylan City government is working closely with the Office of Fifth District Rep. Emilio Yulo III, OPA, Sugar Regulatory Administration, and private groups to combat the attacks of the fall armyworms.
The armyworms have hit sugarcane in about 50 percent of 18.88 hectares owned by 55 farmers in Brgy. San Antonio and 54 percent of the 13.17 hectares in Brgy. Mahalang affecting 23 farmers, the press release said.
About 65 percent of the 32.6 hectares of cornfields in Brgy. Carabalan have also been infested affecting 46 farmers, it added.
Tongson said the city government is planning to purchase corn seeds to be distributed to the affected farmers.*