Anacleto Esplana, Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) technician, said farmers are alarmed by the rice black bug (RBB), an insect that sucks juices of plants particularly the base of the plant causing these to dry up. Its heavy infestation can cause total or 100 percent damage of the crop.

The DA is projecting a rice production of 14.9 million metric tons (MT) this year, a two percent growth from 14.6 million MT in 2005. But a serious infestation of pests and diseases like the one from RBB can pull production down. Even a 50,000 MT damage is very important to the country since import substitution for such volume requires .25 million in foreign exchange spending a 5 per MT. The pests thrive in marshy and muddy areas. Since the bug is not stationary and transfers to other islands by following the direction of the moon or the lunar cycle, it has the potential of infesting one area to another.

"The RCPC is conducting a massive information campaign to educate extension workers and farmers on the management of rice black bug and prevent its spread. Philrice supports this by providing technical expertise and information materials on its management," according to the Department of Agriculture.

The first RBB damage in the country was observed in Palawan back in 1982 after which Mindanao farms including Zamboanga City, Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat and then Visayas provinces Siquijor and Occidental Mindoro were also found adversely hit by the bug.

The RBB is now infesting four towns in Sorsogon, although the level of infestation is not yet serious. The threatening report, however, is that RBB, scientifically known as scotinophara coarctata, is moving towards Luzon. Prior to damaging farms in Gubat, Prieto Diaz, Bulan, and Matnog in Sorsogon, RBB has been found present in Bohol seven years ago.

Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) scientists Dr. Josue Desclasota and Eliseo Batayan who have been conducting management techniques to fight RBB said management options for controlling the pest are synchronous planting of rice crops, flooding of rice fields, light trapping, and preservation of natural predators.

At an infestation rate of two to three bugs per hill, Philrice officials said that the infestation is not yet extremely devastating but should be enough warning for farmers to learn techniques of managing the bugs.

"They should be trained on how to monitor the situation, when to say it is below or above pest level and what management options to apply," said Dong Arida, Philrice crop protection expert who conducted studies on RBB during the height of the outbreak in Palawan.