By CESAR JOLITO III
A state of calamity in Negros Occidental will remain in effect amid the continued spread of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), which has now affected 32.18 percent of the province’s sugarcane plantations, as localities craft measures to curb the pest infestation.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is still reviewing whether a new declaration of a calamity state is necessary.
The existing declaration — initially issued in response to Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” and the RSSI outbreak last year — remains legally in effect.
However, Lacson emphasized that maintaining a state of calamity is essential to ensure faster access to national funds and assistance.
During a briefing at the Provincial Capitol, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and United Sugar Producers Federation President Manuel Lamata presented updated damage assessments to the governor and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, stressing that RSSI remains a “very, very serious problem” with potential national impact on sugar production.
As of June 21, RSSI affected at least 61,242 hectares of sugarcane farms in Negros Occidental alone, along with 15,366 hectares in Negros Oriental, bringing the total RSSI-hit area across Negros Island to more than 76,000 hectares.
Of these, 13,797 hectares have been validated, affecting thousands of farmers across both provinces.
Officials warned that if the infestation leads to a 30 percent production decline in Negros Occidental, losses could reach around 390,000 metric tons of sugar or an estimated P17.5 billion in revenue.
Meanwhile, local agricultural officials reported that RSSI populations thrive in hot conditions but can be reduced by rainfall, while ongoing interventions include the production of entomopathogenic fungi.
However, production capacity remains limited despite support from the Department of Agriculture, which has authorized the use of additional laboratories to scale up countermeasures.
A proposal to allocate P200 million for aerial spraying across Negros Island was also raised but will be further evaluated for safety and effectiveness, with officials noting that previous mass spraying efforts in other countries provided only temporary relief.
The SRA reported that P206.4 million has already been released for RSSI response since last year, sourced from both government funds and the Sugar Industry Development Act.
RSSI causes significant damage to sugarcane, with high temperatures accelerating its population growth.
Scientifically known as Pulvinaria tenuivalvata, they typically inhabit the lower surfaces of sugarcane leaves and are challenging to control, especially during the busy harvest season when cane transport is at its peak.
Negros Island, which produces over 60 percent of the country’s sugar, is facing a rapidly escalating threat that has already affected hundreds of hectares of sugarcane fields./CCJ, WDJ