By CESAR JOLITO III
A federation representing sugar workers and farmers is calling for an independent audit of the P206.4 million allocated by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to combat the spread of the red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI), while urging Congress to investigate the agency’s handling of the pest outbreak.
In a press release issued yesterday, the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (Nacusip-TUCP) said the continued spread of RSSI despite the government’s funding raises questions about the effectiveness and transparency of the SRA’s intervention.
Roland de la Cruz, Nacusip-TUCP national president, claimed the agency has yet to demonstrate measurable results from the funds mobilized to contain the infestation, which continues to threaten sugarcane farms and the livelihoods of thousands of workers.
“Despite the mobilization of hundreds of millions in public funds, the RSSI outbreak remains uncontained, farmers’ yields continue to decline, and no comprehensive intervention has been felt on the ground,” De la Cruz said.
The SRA earlier announced that it had mobilized P206.4 million over the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years for the anti-RSSI campaign.
The funding consists of P177.5 million in corporate funds and P28.9 million from the Sugarcane Industry Development Act’s quick response fund.
According to SRA reports, about P202.3 million had been earmarked for expenses such as fertilizers, sprayers and food assistance.
However, Nacusip questioned the absence of a detailed public accounting of the expenditures and claimed that many small sugar farmers and workers have yet to receive assistance.
The federation also criticized what it described as the SRA’s failure to respond decisively despite early warnings from industry stakeholders, arguing that the pest infestation has continued to expand and now affects thousands of hectares of sugarcane plantations.
Elisama Gregorio, chairman of Nacusip’s Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Council, likewise called for accountability among officials representing planters in the Sugar Board, saying farmers continue to suffer declining harvests and income.
Joint inquiry
Given the worsening situation, Nacusip is urging both the House of Representatives and the Senate to conduct a joint congressional inquiry into the agency’s response to the RSSI outbreak.
The group said the proposed investigation should examine the utilization of the P206.4-million fund, determine whether interventions reached affected communities, assess the SRA’s implementation of its mitigation program, and identify possible lapses in the management of public funds.
The federation also appealed to the Department of Agriculture and Malacañang to conduct a performance audit of the SRA leadership and strengthen oversight of the agency.
The RSSI infestation has emerged as one of the biggest threats facing the Philippine sugar industry, which is already grappling with low farmgate prices, rising production costs, and climate-related challenges./CCJ, WDJ