ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAO) identified 18 towns in Iloilo province to have been suffering from rat infestation.These towns are Leon, Alimodian, Sta. Barbara, Leganes, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Mina, Badiangan, Lambunao, San Enrique, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, Concepcion and Estancia.
Of these towns, the most affected are Mina, Sta. Barbara, New Lucena, and Anilao.
As of July 19, 2012, PAO data show that some 3,416.8 hectares of rice farms in the province have been affected by the rat infestation. The damaged rice plantation ranges from seedling to reproductive stage.
To contain the infestation, PAO already distributed 645 bottles of zinc phosphide to the affected municipalities.
Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. called for a meeting with Department of Agriculture (DA) officials last Thursday. He sought the advice of DA-6 regional director Larry Nacionales and his technical personnel on how to address the problem.
To prevent the rat infestation from spreading to other rice lands, the governor encouraged farmers and the entire community to do rat hunting in their areas.
DA officials also encouraged farmers to practice synchronized planting in order not to attract rats.