Negros Occidental worm infestation spreads to 7 LGUs

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The number of local government units (LGUs) affected by the armyworm infestation in Negros Occidental has increased to seven.

This developed after armyworms attacked sugarcane and corn fields in Kabankalan and La Castellana.

Five other LGUs – Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Ilog, Isabela and Moises Padilla – have been affected by the plague.

As of June 21, the worms have destroyed 296.4 hectares of sugarcane and corn crops and displaced 381 farmers, according to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.

Among the LGUs, Isabela was the hardest hit, with 109 hectares of corn fields destroyed by the worms.