The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) yesterday assured close monitoring to contain the red-striped soft-scale insects (RSSI) infestation in Negros Occidental.

The RSSI, which was initially recorded in Luzon in 2023, poses a potential reduction of sugar content by almost 50 percent.

SRA Administrator Luis Pablo Azcona said there are “favorable” responses from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to help mitigate the situation.

“Tinutulungan ng DA ang SRA, nagtulungan din po kami ng DA-NIR [Negros Island Region]. So, mabilis po iyong reaction natin (The DA is helping the SRA, we are also working with the DA-NIR. So, we have a fast reaction),” he said.

He, however, noted that there’s a containment challenge amid the harvest season.

“So, iyong mga sugarcane and iyong trucks and iyong tao po lipat-lipat North to South. So, medyo mahirap iyong control a bit. But once harvest is over this month, it will be a lot easier to contain,” Azcona said.

As of May 26, the SRA recorded 186.03 hectares of damaged areas amid the RSSI infestation in select portions of Negros Occidental, with 96.21 hectares reporting an “extremely mild” degree of infestation.

These include La Castellana, La Carlota, Bago City, Murcia, Bacolod City, Silay City, EB Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Toboso, and Sagay City.

Around 115 sugar farmers in the said areas, meanwhile, are affected.

Earlier, the DA assured to provide intervention including assistance on the possible distribution of pesticides to farmers; stringent implementation of quarantine and transport protocols; and provision of two tankers in the Negros Island and Iloilo for disinfection of planting materials and canes that are being transported.

The SRA, likewise, is coordinating with the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority for the possible issuance of an emergency use permit once a second trial is completed on potential insecticides against RSSI. (PNA)