• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is projecting revenue losses of P350 million in sugar production in almost 3,000 hectares of sugarcane farms damaged by the infestation of red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) in Negros and Panay as of July 9.
The RSSI, which was first discovered in Egypt, can cut sugar content by almost 50 percent, which poses a serious threat to the sugar sector, according to the SRA.
In 3,000 hectares of sugar production, the agency expects P700 million in average revenues.
Based on the Egypt experience, it was a 50- percent loss on sugar production, SRA Board Member David Sanson said.
As of this time, SRA reported only 237.66 hectares that have showed signs of recovery. SRA has requested the provincial government and affected local government units (LGUs) to declare a state of emergency or urgency for them to initiate emergency purchase of pesticides to address the RSSI infestation.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said the present damage caused by the RSSI infestation is not enough to qualify for the declaration of a state of emergency.
Sanson, who met with Lacson on Friday (July 18), said they are exploring other options for the issuance of an executive order, looking into the financial aspect of sugar production losses due to RSSI infestation.
Lacson said he will seek an opinion from the Provincial Legal Office on how to go about it.
By declaring a state of emergency or urgency, Sanson said it does not mean that the concerned LGU will provide funds for it.
“We need it to hasten the purchase of pesticides,” he added.
Both the Department of Agriculture and the SRA have allocated P15 million for the purchase of pesticides.
The SRA is also looking at biological alternatives in preventing the spread of RSSI as part of its long-term interventions.
It is now working on the mass production of entomo-pathogenic fungi discovered in Capiz to help eliminate RSSI.
If successful, the fungi could be mass-produced as a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution. | GB
