• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported that the infestation of red striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) has affected 67,443 hectares of sugarcane farms in the country, the bulk of which are in Negros Island Region (NIR), recording 58,374 hectares.
In a report of SRA dated Aug. 14, the validated affected areas nationwide constitute 31.90 percent of the 421,606 hectares planted with sugarcane.
As facilitated by Agriculture Francisco Tiu-Laurel, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assisted 27,304 affected sugarcane farmers, who availed more than P280 million in emergency cash transfer.
As of Aug. 28, the DSWD-Negros Island Region reported that 22,194 beneficiaries in Negros Occidental had received over P229 million while 5,110 farmers in Negros Oriental received about P51.7 million.
Beverly Salazar, chief of the DSWD-NIR Disaster Response Management Division, said that more ECT payouts are scheduled this week in both provinces, using the beneficiary list provided by the SRA.
Each eligible farmer in Negros Occidental received P10,325 while those in Negros Oriental availed P10,125.
While the RSSI remains a significant threat to the industry, SRA said that coordinated government interventions have been effective in suppressing its rate of expansion.
The stabilization observed that after the initial outbreak in 2025 indicates that surveillance, monitoring and integrated pest management strategies successfully showed the progression of infestation across the affected areas, it added.
SRA also explained that the sharp increase recorded in June 2026 should be viewed as both a resurgence of infestation and the result of intensified validation efforts.
Rather than indicating failure of previous intervention, SRA said it underscores the dynamic nature of RSSI outbreaks and the need for sustained vigilance.
It said it has further intensified field monitoring, validation, technical assistance and coordinated pest management operations to contain the renewed spread, protected unaffected plantations and minimize production losses in the sugar industry. | GPB
