Why pest management is a must in PH

In a tropical country like ours, rats, termites, cockroaches are all but too familiar housemates or workmates. This however, should not be the case.

Pests like “anay” may affect the structural integrity of our homes while rodents may destroy our valuable possessions. Roaches and mosquitoes are also known to transmit diseases such as salmonella, cholera, dengue and leprosy.

As COVID-19 put our lives on a standstill, many of our activities have been halted as well, giving pests free reign to create a harborage. This may be possible as some stores have permanently closed and are therefore unused and unmaintained for a prolonged period, while schedules of garbage collection may have become erratic or irregular in some areas, causing households to accumulate more garbage than usual.

Pest management awareness, cleanliness and integrated pest management programs have thus become crucial nowadays to ensure better sanitation, good health and safety, according to Mark Lester Ibabao, general manager of Victory Pest Control Corp.

According to Ibabao, “households or business establishments may prevent a rodent infestation by making sure that items that would attract them like food, are properly sealed and stored. They may also check for entry points and make sure to cover it with a sheet made out of material that can’t be gnawed.” He further shared that “rodents by nature will gnaw nonstop as their teeth is constantly growing and the multiplier of a single rat sighting is to fifty more hidden in the vicinity.”

“Dealing with roaches is a different expertise altogether,” he added. In the country, there are two common kinds of cockroaches. The smaller light brown ones are German cockroaches that hitchhike in cardboard boxes and grocery bags. The bigger, darker reddish brown ones that fly are American cockroaches or “ipis bahay” which enters through plumbing.

“These pests are nocturnal, so if you see these two during daytime, then you have an infestation,” Ibabao said. The American cockroaches can consume any organic matter and like rodents, they prefer to live in groups and can squeeze through tiny spaces. He thus advises, “to limit where you eat, empty and clean the garbage container and remove things that may serve as their home, like stacks of cardboard and paper.”

General pest control treatment

Living with mosquitoes can also be prevented by getting rid of still water, as this is where they breed. Keep them outside by using screens on your doors and windows.

“Don’t attract them, it is true that some people are more prone to be bitten than others. Most of the time they are those with Type O and emits more CO2 like heavy breathers, so better wear repellents,” Ibabao shared.

Termite management is also needed in this tropical climate.

“Ideally, termite management must begin during the construction of a structure. A complete barrier around the property, achieved through soil injection is ideal to keep termites at bay. For structures like buildings or those that are attached, above-ground baiting may be used,” Ibabao said. Awareness, prevention, early detection and regular fast action are needed to combat this pest.

In this time when more people are going DIY, it is important to keep in mind that “there is a proper way of handling and storing chemicals and that each infestation is unique so an integrated pest management done by a professional is needed. In Victory Pest Control Corp., we make sure that we have a partnership with our clients which we begin by holding free pest management seminars. This way, expectations are managed and we are on the same page,” Ibabao shared.

In choosing a pest control provider, “make sure they are not fly-by-night companies by asking for a Philippine Federation of Pest Management Operators’ Associations Inc. (PFPMOA) Certificate of Accreditation as well as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) of the chemicals they use and the its corresponding Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).”

For inquiries, you may call (02) 7218-8175 or email Victory Pest Control at [email protected]. Check them out on Facebook and Instagram, @victorypestcorp.