• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Describing the spread of red striped-soft scale insect (RSSI) as “alarming”, with infected sugarcane fields quadrupled in just eight days, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is seeking emergency powers and the help of other government agencies to contain the spread in Negros Island, which accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s sugar produce.
Thirteen towns and cities in Negros Occidental reported the presence of RSSI while Mabinay in Negros Oriental and Anilao town in Panay also reported some spread of pests.
In a matter of two days, the infestation almost doubled, from 255 hectares on May 28 to 424.82 hectares, two days after, SRA records showed.
The pest infestation was reported by SRA on May 22, after it damaged 87 hectares of sugarcane fields in Negros Occidental.
This prompted the SRA to seek the help of other government agencies, especially the Department of Agriculture (DA), provincial government of Negros Occidental, affected local government units, and the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) for quarantine measures.
In an inter-government agency meeting on June 2, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona called for strict quarantine measures on the movement of canes and planting materials as studies showed, the pest, which was earlier monitored in Luzon, might have been accidentally brought in to Negros.
“RSSI was first observed in Luzon in 2022 and contained by SRA and the DA in 2024. It is surprising how it got to Negros where 65 percent of the industry is present,” Azcona said.
He asked the DA and the BPI to disallow entry of planting materials whether it’s for commercial or research purposes without a certification from SRA, and or the DA.
SRA Deputy Administrator Ignacio Santillana said they will need a policy for emergency use to fast-track procurement and distribution of pesticides given the strict regulations of the Commission on Audit regarding procurement.
“We currently want to utilize P1.5 million for pesticides purchase while we are waiting for the assistance from the DA, but our hands are tied unless there is a policy in place for emergency purchase and considering the rate of spread, this is an emergency,” Santillana said.
In a statement, SRA said it believes the infestation is wider than what was reported given the limitations they have with manpower to verify reports from the field, which is also why they need the help of local government agriculturists.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said they will seek the guidance of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on how can they help put a policy in place so that a coordinated response from all government agencies be implemented as soon as possible.
The OPA and SRA will also coordinate with the chief executives in the Victorias Milling District which covers the cities of Victorias and Cadiz and the town of Manapla, which accounts for almost half of the infestation covering 219 hectares.
Lacson said on Monday he believes that sugar planters in the province have adequate funds to eradicate the RSSI infestation in Negros Occidental.
“The province is in no position to provide the needed treatment,” Lacson said, adding that he is leaving it to the SRA and sugar planters to ask for assistance.
He said the province has already identified the local government units that have been reported affected by RSSI and alerted the concerned agriculture offices.
SRA has recommended that farmers should refrain from purchasing cane points from identified areas with infestation and to soak their planting materials in pesticide before planting these.
The SRA research arm is also looking into natural predators that can attack RSSI with the hope that this can be phased out due to natural means and not through the use of pesticides which will increase production cost again of farmers.
Meanwhile, Azcona said they already sent a letter requesting a P10-million assistance from the DA and this was well-received by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel who has been apprised of the situation.
Azcona also tasked the agency to study the use of drone in spraying pesticides as “it might be worth using drones for its wide range of application and speed to contain the infestation”.
“RSSI has been observed to grow in the underside of sugar cane leaves and if drone use can reach the area, “we are ready to tap the private sector for drone use as it can spray at least 50 hectares per day.” | GB
