Rice technical workers train to fight fall armyworm infestation Format By Zorayda Tecson CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has tapped the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) in conducting intensive training among rice technical workers to prepare them for a possible fall armyworm (FAW) infestation. Genaro Rillon, DA-PhilRice’s crop protection expert, said on Tuesday that tools developed by CABI through pest experts from Malaysia, India, the United Kingdom, and Africa are being introduced via online sessions to rice research and development workers. He said lessons on identifying and managing FAW were presented to 49 researchers and extension workers from DA-PhilRice, Bureau of Plant and Industry, Regional Crop Protection and Management Center (RCPMC) in Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon, and local government units of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Pangasinan.