Negros island: The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Wednesday welcomed the decisive actions of top leaders in Negros Island to fight the increasing red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation.

According to Philippines News Agency, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona expressed gratitude towards Governors Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental and Manuel 'Chaco' Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental for their support in addressing the threat posed by the invasive sugarcane pest. Azcona emphasized that this collaboration would ensure cohesive and concerted action across the island.

Negros Island is a significant sugar producer, contributing over 60 percent of the country's sugar output. Studies cited by the SRA suggest that RSSI could potentially reduce the sugar content of infested canes by up to 50 percent. As of June 26, validated data from SRA-Visayas indicated that the Negros Island Region is the worst affected, with Negros Occidental reporting 14,447.83 hectares and Negros Oriental 1,571.33 hectares of affected sugarcane farms.

In response to the infestation, the Provincial Board of Negros Occidental declared a state of calamity on Tuesday, following a recommendation from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) chaired by Lacson. This declaration enables the provincial government to allocate funds for emergency response, containment, rehabilitation, and recovery measures against RSSI. The PDRRMC highlighted that 32.18 percent of the province's total sugarcane area is affected by RSSI, posing a serious threat to the sugar industry and the livelihood of thousands involved in sugarcane farming.

Gov. Manuel 'Chaco' Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental announced plans for Bais City and Mabinay, two of the most-affected local government units, to declare a state of calamity. Sagarbarria also committed to forming an anti-RSSI task force and approved PHP15-million in funding for immediate response efforts.