The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has maintained close monitoring of the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation in Negros Occidental, as part of ongoing efforts to contain its spread and mitigate damage to sugarcane crops in the province.
In a statement on Thursday, the SRA said the RSSI outbreak has so far affected over 186 hectares of sugarcane land in various areas including La Castellana, La Carlota, Bago City, Murcia, Bacolod City, Silay City, EB Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Toboso, and Sagay City. Of the affected area, 96.21 hectares were categorized as having an “extremely mild” degree of infestation.
The infestation has impacted around 115 sugar farmers. The RSSI, which was first reported in Luzon in 2023, can potentially reduce sugar content in crops by up to 50 percent, raising concern among stakeholders in the sugar industry.
SRA Administrator Luis Pablo Azcona said in an interview that the agency is working closely with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its regional office in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) to respond quickly to the outbreak.
Azcona acknowledged the challenge of containment during the ongoing harvest season, citing the constant movement of sugarcane, trucks, and workers between northern and southern parts of the province. He added that containment efforts are expected to improve once the harvest concludes by the end of the month.
The DA has pledged to provide additional assistance, including the possible distribution of pesticides, stricter enforcement of quarantine and transport protocols, and the deployment of two tankers in Negros and Iloilo to disinfect planting materials and harvested canes during transport.
The SRA is also collaborating with the National Crop Protection Center and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority to secure an emergency use permit for a new insecticide formulation, pending the results of a second trial.