Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is considering providing financial assistance to sugarcane farmers on Negros Island Region (NIR) who have been affected by an infestation of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI).

According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD-NIR Director Arwin Razo met with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to draft a proposal for this initiative at the Provincial Capitol. "Upon instruction by our Secretary, Rex Gatchalian, we are collaborating with the provincial government on how we can possibly provide or extend assistance to our sugarcane farmers who are affected by RSSI," Razo said.

The financial assistance aims to support small sugarcane farmers in Negros Occidental, which has been under a state of calamity since June 30 due to the extensive RSSI infestation affecting plantations across the province. Razo emphasized the necessity of corroborating data from local government units with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to finalize the proposal.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council highlighted reports from the SRA and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, which indicated that as of June 23, approximately 32.18 percent of the total sugarcane area planted-61,242 hectares out of 190,314 hectares-has been affected by the RSSI. Studies cited by the SRA suggest that the RSSI could potentially reduce the sugar content of infested canes by up to 50 percent.

Razo expressed urgency in piloting the cash assistance distribution, noting that a maximum of PHP10,000 could be provided to beneficiaries with severely affected sugarcane farms. He also mentioned that while the UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) assistance is being piloted, they aim to begin the initial distribution of aid within July, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, which maintains the farmers' registry.