Farmers in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija are suffering from an army worm infestation attacking their onion crops.

The destructive pests consumed onion leaves within 24 hours and left almost nothing for farmers to harvest.

"Sabi nila, parang hindi raw harabas, pero parang daig pa ang harabas dahil 24 hours ang tinagal [at] naubos niya [agad] ‘yung dahon. Sobrang dami nila halos may pito hanggang 15 uod sa isang dahon kaya madaling naubos," Celso Pesa, a farmer, said.

Pesa uses farming as his source of funds for his children's education and daily expenses, including medical costs for his sick father.

He invested around P160,000 for onion cultivation, including seeds, spraying chemicals, and fertilizers.

"Nakapalaking problema [netp] kasi minsan lang kami sa loob ng isang taon nagtatanim ng sibuyas [tapos] ganito pa ang nangyari… Next year na ulit [kami tatanim], wala namang aanihin ngayon, diyan lang kami nakaasa ng pang gastos sa eskuwela [at] pagkain sa bahay… wala namang aanihin," he added.

Crops in approximately 6.90 hectares in Barangay Cruz and Pesa are wiped out while crops in 34.30 hectares in Barangay Pesa, Cruz, San Roque, Antipolo, Macabaclay, Tugatog, and Kaingin, are damaged partially, according to the Municipal Agriculture Office.

"Karaniwan naman kasi dito sa aming bayan, ang tanim talaga ay red creole at yellow granex, so ’yun ‘yung affected noong army worm infestations," Jackielou R. Gallarde, the Municipal Agriculturist of Bongabon, said.

The local government and the Department of Agriculture are helping affected farmers.