NORTHERN SAMAR, Philippines (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rushing to implement immediate and extensive measures to mitigate the proliferation of rice black bugs (RBBs) in Northern Samar, a problematic situation with potentials to cause widespread damage to crops in the province.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has issued the instruction earlier to DA-Region 8 director Antonio Gerundio, after the latter reported that 17 out of 24 municipalities in the province were RBB-affected.

“We are doing what we can to curb and control the RBB population to avert its proliferation to other provinces in Region 8,” Alcala said, adding that “we have directed the conduct of immediate and extensive mitigating measures which include the establishment of a metarhizium satellite laboratory in Irawahan, Catubig through which we would be able to assist the provincial government in increasing the production of the biocontrol agent against the RBB.”

DA laboratories will produce metarhizium anisopliae, a fungus that serves as a ‘bio-control’ against the parasite of rice black bugs.

The black bugs can also be controlled using light traps.

Alcala said 55 light trap sets have already been distributed by the local government unit to control the RBBs.

“According to our entomologists, if a particular area has been affected by the RBBs, it would be difficult to entirely eradicate the pest. Therefore, we should put together our efforts in strengthening the "Barangay Bantay Peste" which would help us determine affected areas and contain any infestation,” the DA Secretary said.

For his part, Gerundio said the infestation, if not properly addressed, could adversely affect rice production in the province.

Experts at the DA’s Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said that RBBs could reduce palay harvest by 15 to 23 percent.

Last year, Northern Samar produced 98,380 MT of palay from 38,183 hectares. The province contributed 10 percent to total Eastern Visayas’ palay harvest which came to some 964,145 metric tons in 2010.

To control rice black bugs, PhilRice experts urged farmers to remove rice stubbles and practice clean cropping, synchronize their planting, ensure good irrigation, and if possible raise ducks to eat the bugs, and apply metarhizium on the standing crop.