Giant earthworms ruin rice terraces

BANAUE, Ifugao , Philippines  – Giant earthworms burrowing deep into the famous Banaue Rice Terraces have worsened the already devastating effect of the El Niño phenomenon on the endangered cultural heritage site.

The provincial agriculture office said at least 25 percent of the parched terraces have been destroyed by giant earthworms burrowing into the wall of the terraces in search of cooler temperatures.  

Provincial agriculturist Raymundo Bahatan said the recent four-day rainfall failed to mitigate the effects of the long drought that dried up the terraces so badly it is now vulnerable to erosion. 

Several areas in the province, including the towns of Banaue and Alfonso Lista, have been placed under a state of calamity after agricultural and livestock damage caused by the drought reached P100 million. 

The 2,000 year-old rice terraces, carved from 4,000 square miles of mountainside, is a United Nations Heritage Site and is sometimes referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

It is now, however, severely endangered.

Earthworms have plagued the terraces since the 1980s but up to now, experts have not yet discovered a way to contain the infestation without compromising the environment.

“The problem of the (giant earthworms) at the terraces has been there for a long time. We have not realized the extent of their devastation until now,” said Ifugao Gov. Teddy Baguilat.

Banaue Mayor Lino Madchiw said young Ifugaos have lost interest in preserving the terraces. Many of them have migrated to other provinces to pursue more lucrative ventures or employment. - With Charlie Lagasca