CONCEPCION, Tarlac (Jan. 27, 2023) — After typhoons ravaged the farmlands here last year, this agricultural municipality is now grappling with rat infestations.

At least 1,030 hectares of rice and corn crops have been affected by rodents in 23 barangays.

Two hundred hectares of corn and rice were affected in Barangay Cafe, 100 hectares in Sto. Cristo, and 92 hectares in Tinang. Sta. Rosa (87 hectares), San Agustin (76), Castillo (70), Parulung (60), Magao (50), Lilibangan (40), Talimundoc San Miguel (35), Pitabunan (25), Sta. Maria (25), San Martin (25), Green Village (20), San Nicolas Balas (20), San Vicente (20), Calius Gueco (20), Corazon de Jesus (15), Balutu (15), Malupa ( 10), Alfonso (10), Talimundoc Marimla (10), and Sta. Monica (5).

According to Municipal Agriculture Officer Dr. Venancia Cortez, they will launch the Massive Rat Control Program next week starting in Barangays San Martin and Sta. Maria to arrest the spread of the infestations.

The Program has a budget of P130,000 that will see the training and distribution of Zinc phosphide to help farmers in the affected barangays combat the rat infestations.

The municipality has yet to recover from two tropical cyclones which flooded huge swaths of farmland late last year, with damages reaching more than P100 million.