• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has committed to initially release P100 million from the P200 million requested by the Sugar Regulatory Administration to help contain the spread of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), which has infested sugarcane plantations across Negros Island, according to Manolet Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED).
Lamata said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured them that the initial funding would be immediately released to support efforts to arrest the spread of RSSI before the start of the harvest season.
While UNIFED fully supports the government’s biological control program, particularly the propagation of beneficial fungi to combat RSSI, Lamata stressed that such an approach is a long-term solution.
He proposed a two-pronged strategy consisting of immediate large-scale spraying alongside continued biological control measures.
According to Lamata, spraying, whether through drones, aircraft, or backpack sprayers, must be conducted on a massive scale. Both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are now under a state of calamity due to the widespread infestation.
During a briefing organized by UNIFED, Ruby Cruz of D.C. Cruz Chemical Corporation said the company, which has operated in Negros for 60 years, is committed to supporting the sugar industry by providing crop protection products and technical assistance.
She emphasized that the company works with multinational firms that comply with government regulations and promotes an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.
“This is not a one-shot deal. Long-term survival of the sugar industry requires a combination of chemical and biological control,” Cruz said.
She noted that the insecticide pymetrozine, approved by the National Crop Protection Center, is among the recommended products because it is systemic and considered less harmful to beneficial insects while remaining effective against adult RSSI.
Meanwhile, Rodelio Macatula, National Technical and Regulatory Manager of International Veterinary & Agricultural Corp. (IVA), addressed concerns surrounding aerial spraying.
He explained that products recommended for aerial application have been evaluated by the National Crop Protection Center and, when used according to approved guidelines and permits, are safe for humans, groundwater, and beneficial insects.
Macatula added that aerial spraying offers operational advantages over conventional methods.
Aircraft can treat 400 to 600 hectares within six hours, significantly reducing labor costs while allowing fine spray particles to reach the undersides of sugarcane leaves more effectively than knapsack or boom sprayers, which may miss target areas.
He noted that aerial spraying has already been practiced successfully for years in Davao and has proven to be both effective and efficient in pest management. | GPB
