SRA seeks emergency powers to stop RSSI infestation

AS THE spread of Red-Striped Soft Scale Insects (RSSI) in Negros Occidental is now being considered “alarming,” the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is seeking emergency powers and the help of other government agencies to contain the spread in Negros Island, which accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s sugar produce.

In an inter-government agency meeting on Sunday, June 1, 2025, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona called for strict quarantine measures on the movement of canes and planting materials as studies showed, the pest, which was earlier monitored in Luzon, might have been accidentally brought in to Negros.

Azcona, in a statement, said RSSI was first observed in Luzon in 2022 and contained by SRA and the DA in 2024.

He said it is surprising how it got to Negros where 65 percent of the industry is present and he is asking the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Plan Industry (BPI) “to disallow entry of planting materials whether it’s for commercial or research purposes without a certification from SRA, and or the DA.”

Azcona noted that RSSI’s presence was first noted in end of March in northern Negros Occidental and was declared an infestation in May 22 when it spread in over 87 hectares.

After informing sugar farmers, Azcona said the spread reached 191 hectares as recorded on May 26 and to 255 hectares in May 28.

He said based on their data, dated May 30, 2025, it showed that infestation almost doubled top 424.82 hectares in a matter of two days, prompting the agency to seek the help of other government agencies, particularly the DA, the Province of Negros Occidental and affected local government units and the Bureau of Plant and Industry for quarantine measures.

Lawyer Ignacio Santillana, SRA deputy administrator, also said they will need a policy for emergency use to fast-track procurement and distribution of pesticides given the strict regulations of the Commission on Audit regarding procurement.

“We currently want to utilize P1.5 million for pesticides purchase while we are waiting for the assistance from the Department of Agriculture but our hands are tied unless there is a policy in place for emergency purchase and considering the rate of spread, this is an emergency,” Santillana said.

SRA believes the infestation is wider than what was reported given the limitations they have with manpower to verify reports from the field, which is also why they need the help of local government agriculturists.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) also said that they will seek the guidance of Provincial Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on how can they help put a policy in place so that a coordinated response from all government agencies be implemented as soon as possible.

OPA and SRA will also coordinate with the chief executives in the Victorias Milling District, which covers the cities of Victorias and Cadiz and the town of Manapla, which accounts for almost half of the infestation covering 219 hectares.

Azcona said a total of 13 towns and cities in Negros Occidental reported the presence of RSSI.

He said Mabinay in Negros Oriental also reported some spread and Anilao in Panay.

He added that they need the help of BPI to ensure that while the infestation is not contained, there should be no transport of planting materials between islands and affected areas.

“We never thought this would happen and now we found out that it is hard to cross this pest unless it was brought in through infected canes. I am confident we can arrest this with the help and cooperation of everyone, but if we don’t, this is hitting the sugar industry at its heart because Negros is also the major source of sugar for the country,” Azcona said.

Azcona said Negros also supplies high yielding cane points for Mindanao, “and all the more why we need to come up with regulations and policies in place because somebody has to take responsibility for what’s happening now.”

SRA’s research center data revealed that based on their study and from literature, RSSI can make significant damage to sugarcanes and high temperature has been identified as a key factor in its rapid population increase.

The SRA research arm is also looking into natural predators that can attack RSSI with the hope that this can be phased out due to natural means and not through the use of pesticides which will increase production cost again of farmers.

With the absence of a concrete policy, the management of BPI said their hands are tied as well, saying they tried to stop the transport of planting materials from Escalante, Negros Occidental to Panay Island recently but could not hold back the shipment because there is no policy in place yet.

Meanwhile, Azcona said that they already sent a letter requesting a P10-million assistance from the DA and this was well-received by Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu-Laurel who has been apprised of the situation.

Azcona also tasked the agency to study the use of drone in spraying pesticides as it might be worth using drones for its wide range of application and speed to contain the infestation.

Azcona said RSSI has been observed to grow in the underside of sugar cane leaves and if drone use can reach the area.

“We are ready to tap the private sector for drone use as it can spray at least 50 hectares per day,” he said.

In the absence of a second study that will help draft protocols to mitigate the problem, SRA is recommending that farmers must refrain from purchasing cane points from identified areas with infestation and to soak their planting materials in pesticide before planting these. (MAP)