BACOLOD City — The province of Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity following the approval of a resolution by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) during a special session on July 24.
The declaration was prompted by the twin impacts of Tropical Storm “Crising” and an outbreak of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) that has severely affected sugarcane plantations across the province.
Based on Resolution No. 6, Series of 2025 from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), the southwest monsoon enhanced by “Crising” brought heavy rains, causing significant damage to property, displacing families, and disrupting livelihoods. Simultaneously, the outbreak of RSSI. scientifically known as Pulvinaria tenuivalvata, has devastated vast areas of agricultural land.
“A portion of the calamity fund will be released to extend immediate assistance to those affected by the abovementioned calamities… to aid the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the provincial government,” read part of the resolution, a copy of which was released on Friday, July 25.
It added that the Quick Response Fund from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Funds will be utilized within the affected local government units (LGUs).
Likewise, the SP said a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities will be imposed over the entire province in order to curb predatory pricing by businesses and hoarding of goods.
Tropical Storm “Crising”, enhanced by the southwest monsoon, brought torrential rains that severely affected 21 LGUs, impacting 184 barangays and displacing 35,312 families across the province. The damage includes widespread flooding, infrastructure collapse, disrupted livelihoods, and severe agricultural losses.
Compounding the crisis, an alarming of the RSSI has so far infested 2,876.28 hectares of sugarcane farms, impacting 1,574 farmers in 113 barangays, based on recent data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA). The pest threatens one of Negros Occidental’s most vital economic sectors, raising concerns about food security and long-term economic impacts.
The declaration is in accordance with Section 16 and Section 465 of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which empowers LGUs to take appropriate measures for public welfare and disaster response.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona expressed gratitude to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Gov. Joben Alonso, and the Provincial Board for their swift response to the crisis affecting the sugar industry.
Azcona said he has ordered a reassessment of the infested fields to determine whether the storm had any effect on the RSSI population and to proceed with field testing of organic solutions, such as beneficial fungi, for long-term pest control.
“This declaration from the province will allow the SRA to fast-track the procurement of pesticides, as recommended by the National Crop Protection Center of the University of the Philippines,” Azcona stated.
He also confirmed that the province can now utilize the ₱10-million assistance from the Department of Agriculture to help farmers, especially smallholders, recover their crops and protect them from further infestation. (With a report from Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
