BACOLOD City – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said its biological control program against the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) has been in place for years, following the Negros Occidental provincial government’s recent pronouncement to adopt a “go-green” approach in addressing the pest infestation.
In a statement, the SRA said biological and natural control has always been part of its long-term strategy against RSSI, noting that research on biological control began in Luzon as early as 2023.
The agency said it has identified a locally occurring fungus in the Visayas capable of repelling and killing RSSI, while another promising fungus endemic to Bukidnon is also being studied for pest management. According to the SRA, using indigenous fungi and parasites minimizes the risk of introducing invasive organisms into the environment.
The SRA said it is now mass-producing the fungi and distributing them free of charge to farmers, although supply remains limited. Its La Granja laboratory currently produces enough biological agents to treat only about four hectares daily, prompting plans to establish additional laboratories and encourage local government units (LGUs) to set up satellite facilities with SRA technical assistance.
The agency added that Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has directed Department of Agriculture laboratories nationwide to help expand the production of biological control agents.
“We are not just going to go green—we have already started the process,” the SRA said, describing biological control as its long-term response to the pest.
However, the agency emphasized that biological control alone cannot immediately address the current infestation, particularly with only about three months remaining before harvest.
“Natural control is not quick, and it is not cheap,” the SRA said, noting that bio-pesticides cost four to five times more than conventional pesticides and take longer to produce results.
Given the urgency of the situation, the SRA said immediate intervention remains necessary to prevent further crop losses.
The agency also defended drone spraying, saying several farms heavily affected by RSSI last year were able to reduce infestations through drone-assisted pesticide applications.
It added that the SRA has acquired drones and continues to provide spraying assistance upon farmers’ request.
Responding to criticism over aerial spraying, the agency said its role is limited to providing pesticides and fertilizers free of charge, while LGUs shoulder operational costs through calamity funds. It stressed that pest management decisions should be based on the technical recommendations of government experts.
The SRA warned that at least 67,000 hectares of sugarcane in Negros Occidental have already reached a minimum infestation level of 30 percent.
Without immediate intervention, the province could lose an estimated 150,000 metric tons of raw sugar—equivalent to about eight percent of the country’s total sugar production, the agency said.
The statement came after the Negros Occidental provincial government, a major sugar producers’ group, and a sugar workers’ organization opposed the proposed aerial spraying campaign against RSSI, citing environmental, health, and cost concerns while urging alternative pest control measures.
Meanwhile, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has approved a P24.97-million budget for the Provincial Biosecurity Task Force to strengthen the province’s response to the RSSI infestation.
The P24,968,575.56 allocation will fund the task force’s first six months of operations, covering manpower, labor, materials, biological control initiatives, and scientific research.
The budget includes about P1.5 million for the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, P7.6 million for the Provincial Veterinary Office through its paraveterinarians, P2.6 million for the biomaterials team, P2 million for the biocontrol agents team, and about P11 million for laboratory work, including whole genome sequencing./PN
