The Department of Agriculture-Ilocos Region led by Regional Executive Director Annie Q. Bares and the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) representative Mr. Yubak GC warmly welcomed the second batch of the 13-delegations from the Southeast Asian Geo-zone countries for a weeklong visit in the Philippines in relation to the Global Action for Fall Armyworm Control.

Held at the Monarch Hotel, Calasiao, Pangasinan, the activity signals the start of a weeklong endeavor of the DA in collaboration with the FAO, the Bureau of Plant and Industry, National Crop Protection Center, the local government unit of Pangasinan and the city of San Carlos, Pangasinan as they visit the Large Scale Demonstration of Fall Armyworm IPM-PAMS Management Strategies and Technologies established at Brgys. Payapa and Bocboc San Carlos City, Pangasinan.Dr. Constancia Diaz, chief of the Integrated Laboratories Division of DA-RFO I emphasized in her welcome remarks the essence of the conduct of the scheduled activities of the Geo-zone country representatives where they were able to interact with the Farmer Field School participants to learn the best management options and strategies that they have been doing to manage the fall armyworm infestation in the region.

Showcasing some of the sustainable management and control measures especially on the package of technologies using bio-control agents, other cultural management such as seed treatment, weed management, synchronous planting as well as early detection and monitoring, farmer field school training and some other regulatory strategies, Dr. Diaz noted that the methodology of sharing experiences, technologies and strategies from the participating countries will surely yield a collective defense against fall armyworm.

Meanwhile, Dr. Yubak GC in his opening remarks likewise expressed his great appreciation to the BPI and DA for organizing the event and actively participating in the implementation of the demo field. He also reminded the 13-men delegates to take the opportunity of learning from the many good practices that the Philippines has been doing to mitigate the spread of the fall armyworm in the region. DA’s Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban in his message of support read by RED Annie Bares expressed his concern on the negative impacts that the infestation has to do with the corn and livestock industries. Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that the integrated management strategies that the FAO and its allies especially the DA in the Philippines which embarked in an all-out campaign to manage fall armyworm infestation would bring a positive impact to manage the fall armyworm effectively.

As one of the highlight of the field visit, the DA through the Regional Crop Protection Center in collaboration with the DA-Research Division shall lead the delegates into its Large Scale Field Demonstration of FAW IPM-PAMS that showcases management strategies and technologies to control the FAW. The delegates shall also visit the DA’s Biological Control Laboratory managed by the Regional Crop Protection Center in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan and witness the actual field demonstration of the adopter’s field at Brgy. Bocboc, San Carlos City, Pangasinan.The field visit shall provide an avenue for the 13-men delegates to interact with the Farmers’ Field School participants in San Carlos City, Pangasinan and somehow share their ideas, insights and experiences in managing the FAW.

Joining the DA officials in welcoming the delegates is Calasiao former Mayor Roy Macanlalay, who also represented Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III.###