ILOILO — Agriculture authorities have raised an early warning across Western Visayas as emerging disease pressure — particularly bacterial leaf blight (BLB) — threatens rice crops, prompting calls for intervention despite generally low pest levels.
The Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) under the Department of Agriculture (DA) enjoined all Provincial and Municipal Agriculture Offices, agricultural extension workers, and farmer groups to act swiftly to prevent localized outbreaks and protect yields.
“They are enjoined to disseminate this advisory and implement appropriate interventions to mitigate potential pest and disease outbreaks,” according to the RCPC in an advisory.
The alert follows results of the Pest and Disease Risk Identification and Management (PRIME) Monthly Pest Surveillance for February 2026, which showed a generally manageable pest situation but with increasing disease risks.
A total of 155 rice fields across Western Visayas were monitored. Of these, 94 fields had no standing crop, eight were in the vegetative stage, 19 were in the reproductive stage, and 34 were already ripening to maturity.
Authorities said most areas are currently off-season or post-harvest, explaining the low incidence of pests and diseases. However, crops in reproductive and ripening stages remain highly vulnerable to yield loss and require close protection.
Data showed BLB cases sharply rising to 5.1 percent — the highest among diseases — followed by brown spot at 3.26 percent. Sheath blight showed a declining trend at 2.14 percent, while leaf blast and neck blast remained low and stable.
Among insect pests, rice bugs recorded the highest incidence at 1.45 percent, followed by whiteheads at 1.26 percent and deadheart at 0.46 percent. Other pests were reported at minimal levels.
Weed and rat infestations slightly declined in February after peaking in January, but officials warned against complacency.
“Although rat damage is currently low but even small populations can rapidly increase thus early control is essential to prevent outbreaks,” according to the RCPC.
To mitigate risks, the RCPC recommended the use of disease-resistant rice varieties, especially against BLB, and balanced fertilization while avoiding excessive nitrogen.
Farmers were also advised to monitor rice bugs during the grain filling stage and continue surveillance for stem borers even if their incidence is declining.
For weed control, timely mechanical or chemical methods are encouraged, particularly during early crop stages to reduce competition.
For rodents, community-based control measures and early installation of traps were recommended.
The RCPC also urged stakeholders needing technical assistance to coordinate with their office.
The PRIME monthly bulletin provides crucial updates on pest and disease occurrences in the region and offers timely advisories to help farmers protect their crops and sustain productivity./PN
