TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines — More or less 3,000 hectares of rice and corn plantations in at least nine towns and a city in Isabela province have been affected by rodent infestation.

Director Robert Olinares, Cagayan Valley Regional Technical Director for Operations of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the rice and corn farms in Cauayan City, Isabela; Mallig and Ramon towns; and seven other towns are reportedly attacked by rats.

Olinares advised the farmers to conduct synchronized implementation on strategies to control or eliminate the rats from farmlands.

He said that the rat infestation may cause the sudden decline in production of rice and corn from Region 2 if it will not be contained immediately.

He said the DA and concerned local government units (LGUs) are now doing their best effort to help farmers eradicate rats in the affected towns.