BACOLOD City – More than 5,800 hectares of sugarcane farms in Negros Occidental’s Third District have been validated as infested by the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI), affecting 3,268 farmers in 54 barangays and prompting government agencies, industry leaders, researchers, and local officials to launch a coordinated response to contain the pest and protect the province’s sugar industry.
According to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), as of July 24, 2026, the Third District has 34,831.01 hectares planted to sugarcane.
Of the total, 10,785 hectares have been reported as affected by RSSI, while 5,844 hectares have been validated as infested. The validated infestation covers about 16.8 percent of the district’s total sugarcane area.
The infestation is most severe in the municipality of Murcia, where 2,032.84 hectares have been validated as infested, accounting for 33.14 percent of the district’s total validated infestation. Murcia also has 15 affected barangays and 1,275 affected farmers, making it the hardest-hit local government unit in the district.
Amid the growing threat, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez convened the Metro Third Sugar Industry Stakeholders’ Meeting on RSSI on Aug. 2 at a resort in Talisay City. The meeting brought together representatives from government agencies, local government units, sugar mills, planters, researchers, and farming communities to develop a unified, science-based strategy against the pest.
“The insect does not stop at the fence line, and neither should our response. We did not call this meeting to announce what we already know. We called it to find out what we do not, and to agree on what we will do about it,” Benitez said.
The meeting sought to validate the extent of the infestation using field data submitted by stakeholders and assess its impact on sugarcane growth, crop yield, sugar recovery, production costs, and the livelihoods of thousands of planters and farm workers.
Benitez said discussions were anchored on verified field reports rather than estimates to ensure that interventions and policies accurately reflect conditions in affected communities.
Technical experts from the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation Inc. (PHILSURIN) and other research institutions presented updates on the identification, biology, monitoring, prevention, and management of RSSI.
The discussions also highlighted area-wide integrated pest management strategies and the provincial government’s ongoing initiatives to contain the spread of the insect.
Stakeholders evaluated proposed interventions based on scientific evidence, field effectiveness, implementation costs, and operational feasibility.
The meeting gathered representatives from the provincial government, national agencies, city and municipal agriculture and environment offices, state universities, research institutions, sugar mills, planters’ federations, farmers’ associations, and officials from all 75 sugar-producing barangays in the Third District.
Officials from the five Metro Third local government units — the cities of Talisay, Silay, and Victorias, and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Murcia — also participated in the discussions.
The stakeholders concluded the meeting by adopting a district-wide implementation framework and action plan outlining the roles of government agencies, local governments, research institutions, sugar mills, and farmers in combating RSSI.
Benitez said the fight against RSSI requires sustained coordination among all sectors, stressing that protecting sugarcane farms is essential not only to safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods but also to preserving the resilience of one of Negros Occidental’s most vital industries./PN
