Plant hoppers spread to 8 more towns
The brown plant hopper infestation in Iloilo province has spread to eight more towns, bringing to 18 the number of local government units affected, with damage to rice plantations reaching 1,329.975 hectares as of yesterday.
Figures of the Provincial Agriculture Office show total area affected is 6,762.95 hectares, from only 4,483 hectares affected and 1,116 hectares damaged on Tuesday.
As of September 22, the infestation has been reported in 276 barangays in 18 towns, including Passi City.
Brown plant hoppers are locally known as “waya-waya.”
Affected are Lemery – 787.5 has. in 31 barangays; Barotac Viejo – 407.5 has., 18 barangays; Passi City 795.25 has., eight barangays; San Enrique – 331 has., 17 barangays; Lambunao – 881.1 has., 35 barangays; Banate – 35 has., 11 barangays; Batad – 123.45 has., 10 barangays; Cabatuan – 514.5 has., 41 barangays; Dueñas – 68 has., eight barangays; Ajuy – 369 has., 15 barangays, Sta. Barbara – 25.8 has., 16 barangays; and Janiuay – 418.25 has., 44 barangays.
Also affected are New Lucena – 94.5 has.; Tubungan – 105.5 has.; San Rafael – 900 has., Dingle – 18.5 has.; and Janiuay – 27.75 has.
Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo said the municipal agriculture offices are planning to establish a Bantay Peste Volunteer Brigade in every barangay to contain the brown plant hoppers infestation.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. urged municipal agriculturists during a conference at the Capitol yesterday to “address the problem on plant hoppers with high urgency.”
Iloilo province is among top three rice-producing provinces in the country.
Defensor said Mayor Reynor Gonzales of Lambunao has already requested to declare a state of calamity in his town because of the plant hopper infestation.
The governor said he forwarded Gonzales’ request to the Provincial Agriculture Office for evaluation.
Defensor said municipal agriculturists should take the lead on how to address the problem.
“Make the farmers feel that they have somebody to lean on,” he said. “We must arrest the spread of the plant hoppers. We must do it fast. We must act fast.”*