By CESAR JOLITO III
A provincial task force will be created to address the growing infestation of the red-striped soft scale insects, as authorities step up efforts to contain the pest that has already affected key agricultural crops across Negros Occidental.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is expected to issue an executive order formalizing the creation of the task force, following consultations with stakeholders in the agriculture sector, former Governor Lito Coscolluela confirmed.
Coscolluela said the move comes amid mounting concern over the rapid spread of RSSI, which has already damaged sugarcane plantations and is now reported to be affecting corn and vegetable farms as well.
He emphasized that the focus should shift toward aggressive pest control and prevention measures rather than crop-specific responses.
He also proposed that the task force prioritize the development of a surveillance and mapping system to determine the current extent and severity of the infestation across affected areas.
Coscolluela further raised the possibility of establishing a border control patrol system to regulate the movement of agricultural materials, particularly sugarcane, to prevent the spread of infected crops.
He noted that while the initiative could be supported by the Sugar Regulatory Administration, he expressed skepticism about its effectiveness given the widespread nature of the infestation.
In a meeting held yesterday, representatives from Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, Inc. (Confed) and Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation (Philsurin) sat down with provincial officials to discuss immediate containment measures and long-term strategies to protect the agriculture sector.
Coscolluela stressed that RSSI is no longer confined to sugarcane, noting that the pest can also infect corn, vegetables and other crops with leaves.
Despite this, he underscored the urgency of implementing stronger and more coordinated control measures, warning that without decisive action, RSSI could continue to spread and further threaten the province’s agricultural production./CCJ, WDJ