BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson formed the Provincial Coordinating Task Force on Fall Armyworm (FAW) to protect crops in the province from possible infestation.
“There is a critical need to create a provincial coordinating task force to ensure preparedness and to strengthen pest surveillance and management activities,” he said.
Lacson, who chairs the task force, issued Executive Order 19-42 on Monday.
Provincial Board member Andrew Montelibano was named as co-chairman while Provincial agriculturist Japhet Masculino was appointed as action officer.
Regional Technical Director Rene Famoso, officer-in-charge of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Western Visayas, said last week they were verifying a suspected FAW case in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City in the province.
He warned farmers that the exotic pest can infest over 500 plant species. It was monitored earlier in Ilocos and Cagayan Valley Regions in Luzon.
Lacson directed the Capitol FAW task force to collaborate with its regional counterpart to ensure preparedness of the province with the new invasive pest at all stakeholder levels, prepare appropriate short and long-term action plans and be responsible for the regular submission of the provincial update and necessary data.
He said the task force will spearhead the overall activities on the continued surveillance and detection of the possible presence of FAW within the province and enforce quarantine measures and regulations to prevent its possible entry.
He added information dissemination will be put in place and the task force will ensure timely release of pest advisory on FAW to the farmers through the local government unit.
According to the governor, the task force will ensure the maintenance of buffer stock of effective biological control agents and recommended insecticides against FAW.
The task force includes representatives from the Bureau of Plant Industry and its Quarantine Service, DA-Agricultural Programs Coordinating Office, National Seed Quality Control Services, and Sugar Regulatory Administration, among others.(With a report from PNA/PN)
