• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has warned that the massive infestation of red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) in Negros Occidental could result in the loss of about 150,000 metric tons of raw sugar, equivalent to approximately eight percent of the country’s annual production, if immediate intervention is not undertaken.
Based on SRA records, at least 30 percent of the province’s sugarcane farms are already infested.
It also reported that RSSI caused production losses of 40 to 50 percent in both cane tonnage and LkgTC (50-kg bag raw sugar per ton of cane) as reported by farmers in northern Negros Occidental.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said on Thursday, July 16 that if the current infestation is not contained, Negros Occidental stands to lose around 33,000 hectares of sugar production before harvest.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier ruled out supporting or financing aerial massive aerial spraying of pesticides to combat RSSI, opting instead for a biological and environmentally-friendly approach.
Lacson noted that many sectors have expressed concern over the risks of large-scale aerial spraying, citing effects on public health and the environment.
The provincial government has allocated an initial P24.96-million budget to strengthen its biosecurity response against RSSI.
While it has advocated biological and natural methods to combat RSSI since 2023, the SRA said the mass production of fungi and its distribution free of charge to farmers remains limited as its laboratory in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City presently produces enough fungi to treat only about four hectares per day.
To expand production capacity, the SRA established additional laboratories and has encouraged local government units (LGUs) to include smaller fungal laboratories in their long-term agricultural plans, with the agency providing technical support.
Despite these developments, the SRA stressed that biological control is a long-term solution and cannot provide the rapid response needed with only three months remaining before harvest.
The agency noted that bio-pesticides are four to five times more expensive than conventional pesticides and generally act more slowly.
For the immediate crisis, the SRA is considering large-scale intervention measures, including aerial spraying and drone-assisted application of systemic pesticides.
In a statement, Azcona criticized what he described as unfounded opposition to aerial spraying, saying government agencies responsible for pest management, environmental protection, aviation, and drone regulation should be consulted before conclusions are drawn on the safety and effectiveness of proposed interventions.
Ascona also denied allegations that aerial spraying is a money-making venture for the SRA, explaining that the agency provides systemic pesticides and fertilizers free of charge while LGUs, through their calamity funds, would shoulder operational costs.
He added that existing regulations do not allow the SRA to provide financial assistance directly to farmers.
The SRA also expressed concern over what it described as the lack of coordination with the Negros Occidental provincial government regarding its RSSI response. Azcona said the agency was not consulted on either the short-term or long-term plans and only learned about them through media reports.
Nevertheless, SRA said it respects the leadership of Lacson, who chairs the province’s two RSSI Task Forces, and his adviser, former governor Rafael Coscolluela.
In the meantime, the SRA said it will continue responding to requests from local chief executives, particularly in Negros Oriental, where officials have expressed greater openness to immediate intervention measures. | GPB
