MANILA, Philippines - An old house made of about 70% wooden materials located on land conducive to termite infestation proved to be a viable testing ground for a team of pest control experts using a range of world-class termiticide products from the global chemical company BASF.
Two weeks after treatment application, the site was declared by IPSO7 Pest Management & Services, Inc., as termite and pest-free. As a certified pest control operator using BASF products exclusively, IPSO7 was further convinced about BASF products’ efficiency and effectivity. Moreso for Mrs. Teresita Canlas, who was relieved to find her dwelling finally free from the threat of devastation caused by a multiple termite colony.
Residing in the house for almost 40 years, Mrs. Canlas said that the terrain where her property stands inside an exclusive subdivision in Quezon City has always been infamous for its termite problem. This may explain why almost all of the residents in the village prefer to have their homes constructed in cement and other sturdy materials.
“Everyone here has experienced a problem with termites especially if they do not use an effective treatment. For my house though, it was more prevalent because it may be the only one left that is still made from wood,” she related.
This is evident around the 190-sqm property, from the walls and posts riddled with hollow panels to the proliferation of termite tunnels on the wooden braces and other surfaces. There is also a presence of a termite mound. Outside the gate, only remnants of a tree’s base can be found, its entirety devoured by termites through the years. Mrs. Canlas also said a santan plant also withered and eventually died in the same spot.
Alvin R. Madrid of IPSO7 described the severity of infestation in the property as a “7” (from a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest). If the infestation was not addressed, Madrid mentioned the possibility of the wooden braces collapsing, among other areas that were deemed heavily infested.
In fact, out of the seven termite species, five were found to be thriving within the Canlas property. Among those detected were Coptotermes vastator, Microcerotermes losbanosensis, Nasutitermes luzonicus, Macrotermes gilvus and Cryptotermes sp. or dry wood termites.