BACOLOD City — The Negros Occidental provincial government has placed the entire province under a state of calamity after the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation spread to more than 61,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations, threatening the province’s sugar industry and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.
The declaration was unanimously approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its regular session on Tuesday, June 30, after concurring with the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson endorsed the recommendation to the provincial board on June 26 following reports of the rapidly expanding infestation.
Data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) showed that, as of June 23, the province has 190,314.19 hectares planted to sugarcane, with 61,242 hectares, or 32.18 percent, already affected by RSSI.
Provincial officials said the infestation poses a serious threat to Negros Occidental’s agricultural economy, warning that unchecked spread could significantly reduce sugar production, lower farmers’ incomes, disrupt agricultural activities, and inflict heavy economic losses on the province, where sugar remains a major industry.
RSSI (Pulvinaria tenuivalvata) feeds on sugarcane by sucking plant sap and secreting honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mold. The pest weakens the crop, lowers sugar content, and reduces overall productivity.
The PDRRMC said the province met the requirements under National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Memorandum Order No. 60, Series of 2019, which allows the declaration of a state of calamity when at least 30 percent of agricultural livelihoods are affected and there is widespread damage to crops and agricultural resources.
Field validation jointly conducted by the SRA and the OPA confirmed that the scale of the infestation satisfied the criteria for a province-wide calamity declaration.
The declaration will allow the provincial government to immediately access emergency funds, enforce price control measures on basic commodities when necessary, and accelerate response, containment, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.
It also authorizes government agencies to mobilize additional resources and implement emergency interventions to curb the spread of the pest while extending assistance to affected sugarcane farmers.
Meanwhile, more than 200 farmers attended the RSSI Infestation Management and Stakeholders Forum organized by the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) and the SRA at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.
UNIFED President Manuel Lamata described the infestation as an “island-wide problem” that threatens the country’s sugar industry, noting that Negros accounts for more than 60 percent of the nation’s sugar production.
He urged planters to work together, including extending assistance to neighboring small farmers, stressing that collective action is essential to contain the pest.
Lamata also expressed support for the existing RSSI Inter-Agency Task Force led by Lacson and warned pesticide manufacturers against taking advantage of the situation.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona likewise called for a coordinated, research-based response to the infestation.
During the forum, farmers Tonette Ramos and Dino Gutierrez shared that early detection, repeated spraying, drone-assisted pesticide application, and close coordination with neighboring farms helped minimize crop losses, although production costs increased significantly./PN
