ILOILO — The Iloilo provincial government is moving toward declaring a state of calamity as losses from the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation have soared to P1.181 billion, devastating more than 10,000 hectares of sugarcane farms and affecting nearly 9,500 farmers across the province.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said Wednesday, October 7, that the province has now met the requirements for a calamity declaration after three local government units — Passi City and the municipalities of San Enrique and Dueñas — separately declared states of calamity because of the infestation.
“That is our direction. May tatlo na kita ka banwa. Ang kinahanglan two or more. Ginhulat naton ang isa nga ina and now that we have, our direction is to declare a state of calamity due to RSSI. Sang una indi naton mahimu kay wala aton na-meet ang requesitos,” Defensor said during a press conference.
As of October 5, the RSSI infestation had caused an estimated P1,181,878,839 in damage to Iloilo’s sugarcane industry.
RSSI is a destructive, sap-sucking agricultural pest that attaches to sugarcane leaves, drains plant nutrients, and secretes a sticky residue (“honeydew”) that fosters the growth of damaging sooty mold.
Provincial data showed that around 10,342 hectares of sugarcane plantations managed by 9,491 farmers in 27 municipalities have been affected, underscoring the widening economic impact of the pest outbreak on one of the province’s major agricultural industries.
Defensor said the provincial government will now process the proposed state of calamity declaration for approval by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The declaration could unlock additional assistance for thousands of affected sugarcane farmers, particularly financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Defensor said DSWD secretary Rex Gatchalian, during his visit to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol on October 5, committed assistance to farmers affected by RSSI but indicated that a provincial state of calamity declaration was needed to facilitate the intervention.
Once the declaration is approved, the provincial government also plans to roll out biosecurity measures that will serve as guidelines for sugarcane farmers during the next planting season in an effort to prevent the infestation from further damaging the industry.
Gatchalian traveled to Passi City on October 5 to lead the distribution of financial assistance to sugarcane farmers already suffering from the RSSI outbreak.
A total of 1,163 farmers received cash assistance during the payout. Similar aid is expected to be extended to other affected sugarcane growers once the entire province is placed under a state of calamity.
The financial assistance forms part of the national government’s response to help agricultural communities recover from the RSSI infestation crisis that has hit sugar-producing areas in Western Visayas.
The looming province-wide calamity declaration marks a significant escalation in Iloilo’s response to the infestation as authorities move from containing the agricultural pest to addressing its mounting economic toll on thousands of farming families./PN
