Farmers in Rizal, Nueva Ecija, were dismayed as their corn crops have been damaged severely by fall pests, rendering the plants useless. 

"Hindi na ito mapapakinabangan pa, lugi na talaga kami kapag ganito," Jeffrey Madriaga, a corn producer, said.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) confirmed that fall armyworms were responsible for the damage to the cornfields in Nueva Ecija.

OPAG is determining the full extent of the damage and is preparing to assist the affected corn producers. 

Besides Rizal, the Agriculture Office continues to monitor other municipalities reporting fall armyworm infestations.

"Mayroon namang available na intervention na ibinibigay ang government sa mga submitted na corn coordinators natin. Basta’t mag submit sila ng corn damage [report] at kaagad na pinabibigyan namin ng pesticide na pang-control ýung mga farmer na naapektuhan," Shirley Sta. Ana, the Provincial Corn Coordinator at OPAG-Nueva Ecija, said.

Despite the pest issues, authorities said many corn producers have successfully harvested their crops in recent days.