Dumaguete: All sugarcane fields in Negros Oriental, including those not yet affected by the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), will undergo chemical spraying following the province's declaration of a state of calamity. Provincial Agriculture Office Chief Emmanuel Caduyac announced that the preventive spraying aims to contain the spread of the sap-sucking pest and protect unaffected plantations from infestation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Caduyac emphasized the collaborative effort required, stating, "We will be coordinating with the local government units down to the barangay level and the farmers to help us in the spraying as the PAO does not have enough manpower to do this." He stressed that comprehensive spraying across all sugarcane fields is crucial to ensure that no insects remain to reproduce in untreated farms.
Based on the latest report from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), approximately 17,125 hectares of the province's 48,901.43 hectares planted with sugarcane have been affected by RSSI. Of the affected area, around 1,900 hectares have been validated, and the SRA continues its assessment of the situation.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) approved the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to place Negros Oriental under a state of calamity due to the ongoing spread of RSSI. This declaration enables the provincial government to swiftly procure chemicals and equipment, such as backpack sprayers, for distribution to local government units once the resolution is finalized later this week.
The declaration also permits the PDRRM Office to utilize its quick response fund (QRF), with an initial PHP15 million allocated for the anti-RSSI campaign. Caduyac noted that chemical spraying is the first step in combating the infestation, while the provincial Task Force RSSI will investigate more sustainable measures for eradication.
Among the long-term strategies under consideration is the establishment of a bio-control laboratory to study the insect's characteristics and develop biological control measures, including fungi culture. The proposed facility is expected to cost approximately PHP1.4 million and may also be financed through the QRF.
Caduyac highlighted that the use of agricultural crop-dusting aircraft may not be feasible due to the mountainous terrain of many sugarcane plantations, which makes aerial spraying risky.
