Last week, over 49 hectares of onion farms in San Manuel, Pangasinan, were reported to have been infested by armyworm. The affected areas include barangays Santo Domingo and Lapalo.

The widespread presence of the pest was confirmed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Ilocos Region’s Onion Armyworm Surveillance Team, who immediately advised farmers to take action through massive pesticide spraying.

To guide farmers, a demonstration activity using organic pesticides was held on January 26 in Santo Domingo, San Manuel.

After the session, 72 liters of pesticide—enough to treat 18 hectares—were distributed, with more supplies being delivered to cover the remaining affected areas in Santo Domingo and Lapalo.

The DA-RFO1 recommends massive spraying as compared to individual efforts, as it is more effective in preventing pests from hiding and reproducing. The advised best time for spraying is around 3 PM or later.

To prevent further damage, the agency plans to implement this spraying strategy across all the affected areas in the region.