Farmers in Mangaldan, Pangasinan are battling an early outbreak of armyworms, or "harabas," which have started attacking rice fields in Barangay Lanas.

Bonnie Romero, a farmer, checks his crops daily. He noticed that the pests are damaging rice leaves. This is a threat that could reduce harvest if not addressed quickly.

“Kapag hindi namin maagapan ’yan, malulugi kami,” Romero said.

Armyworms eat through the leaves, drying them out. If uncontrolled, the damage spreads and affects grain development.

To prevent further loss, farmers like Romero have started spraying pesticides.

“Inuunahan na namin kasi kung hindi namin uunahan, walang mangyayari, mauubos ’yan,” he added.

Despite the active cases in the fields, the Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office said no formal reports have been made by farmers. However, this does not mean the threat doesn’t exist.

According to Rice Coordinator Manuel Aquino, farmers have already learned how to manage the pest on their own.

“Sa water management kung sakaling mapapatubigan siya [ang palayan], siyempre walang pamamahayan [ang harabas]. Sa baba kasi natutubigan itong palayan,” he said.

Aquino also said the continuous rain may naturally kill the pests. Still, their office will conduct widespread monitoring to help farmers manage their rice fields properly and avoid losses.