Negros occidental: The government is seeing progress in its efforts to contain the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation that has threatened sugarcane farms in Negros Occidental.
According to Philippines News Agency, in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Friday, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Pablo Azcona reported that of the 2,900 affected hectares, "almost 300" hectares are now considered recovered. He attributed the progress in containing the infestation to early detection, prompt pesticide application, and continuous farmer education.
Azcona also highlighted the significant support from the private sector and other stakeholders in tackling the issue. He stated, "Ang dami na pong pumapasok na inquiries and offers for tulong from the private sector. Lahat po gusto nang mag-involve. Iyong mga sugar millers natin umumpisa, mayroon din tayong tawag galing sa mga sugar traders mismo, sa mga importers, sa exporters, at saka po sa mga farmer associations kung ano po iyong puwede nilang itulong (There are many inquiries and offers of help from the private sector. Everyone wants to get involved, starting with sugar millers. We also have calls from sugar traders, importers and exporters, and farmer associations asking what they can do to help)."
The SRA, along with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and provincial and local government units, has been actively conducting farm inspections and pesticide spraying to prevent the pest from spreading further. Azcona noted that most of the affected areas are along roadside sugarcane fields, which are now under constant surveillance.
To avoid future infestations, the SRA Board has issued Sugar Order 6, which bans the transfer of sugarcane, planting materials, importation of new sugarcane varieties, and release of varieties without proper inspection and coordination with the SRA. Additionally, the agency is tracing past movements of planting materials between islands to address biosecurity gaps.
Research is also underway to develop sustainable pest control methods. Azcona mentioned that the SRA is investigating the use of parasitoids and fungi as long-term solutions against RSSI. "On the long-term control, the SRA is developing iyong parasitoids natin, be it insects or fungus or other organisms na i-spread po natin ito sa mga sugarcane farmers natin, lalo na po iyong mga land reform beneficiary farmers natin, para po iyong natural control, doon po talaga tayo papunta for long-term control po (which we will distribute to our sugarcane farmers, especially our land reform beneficiary farmers, for natural control. That's where we're going for long-term control)," he said.
