Negros sugar industry on alert as Red-Striped Soft Scale spreads rapidly
SRA seeks emergency powers, tighter controls as infestation spreads across key sugar-producing areas in Negros
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Daily TribuneSRA seeks emergency powers, tighter controls as infestation spreads across key sugar-producing areas in Negros
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A SUGARCANE field in Negros Occidental affected by the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect infestation, now threatening the province’s sugar production.
Photograph courtesy of SRA
The spread of the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) in Negros Island has escalated into an alarming crisis that now threatens the heart of the Philippines’ sugar industry. With infestations rapidly spreading to over 400 hectares — more than doubling in just days — authorities are sounding the alarm and calling for emergency measures to contain this invasive pest that could deal a severe blow to the country’s sugar production.
Negros Island produces more than 60 percent of the nation’s sugar, making it a critical agricultural hub. The detection of RSSI, first noted late March in northern Negros Occidental and confirmed as an infestation by 22 May, has since spread to at least 13 towns and cities, as well as neighboring provinces. The rapid expansion has spurred the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to urgently request emergency powers and to enlist the help of government agencies including the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and local government units for coordinated quarantine and control efforts.
“This is an emergency for the sugar industry,” SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said in a recent inter-agency meeting. He stressed the need for strict quarantine protocols to prevent the movement of infected sugarcane planting materials, which studies indicate as the likely vector introducing RSSI from Luzon to Negros.
“We must halt all unauthorized transport of cane plants and ensure only certified materials are moved within and between islands.”
The threat posed by RSSI is not only to crop health but also to the livelihoods of thousands of sugar farmers and the larger agricultural economy. Without swift action, the pest could undermine production volumes and quality, impacting sugar supply both domestically and for export.
Deputy Administrator Atty. Ignacio Santillana highlighted an additional challenge: procurement of pesticides to combat RSSI is slowed by existing regulations requiring lengthy approval processes.
“We need a policy for emergency purchases to fast-track distribution of pesticides. Our hands are tied despite having P1.5 million ready for immediate use,” Santillana explained.
The infestation’s true scope may be even broader than reported, as SRA faces manpower constraints in verifying field reports. The agency is calling on local government agriculturists to assist with monitoring and response.
Provincial officials, including Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, are also being mobilized to help implement coordinated strategies and policy frameworks to contain the outbreak effectively.
The BPI has reported recent attempts to stop transport of planting materials from affected areas but lamented the lack of concrete policies to enforce quarantines.
“Without proper regulations, preventing spread across islands is extremely difficult,” a BPI spokesperson said.
Scientific studies by the SRA’s research center reveal that RSSI thrives under high temperatures and can cause significant damage to sugarcane crops. Preventative measures such as early pesticide spraying in unaffected farms are strongly recommended.
To further strengthen control efforts, the SRA is exploring innovative solutions like drone technology to spray pesticides efficiently over large areas.
“Drones could cover 50 hectares per day, reaching difficult areas such as the underside of sugarcane leaves where the pest hides,” Azcona noted.
Meanwhile, the agency is investigating natural predators of RSSI, aiming for sustainable biological control methods to reduce reliance on costly pesticides, which add to farmers’ production expenses.
With a P10 million funding request submitted to the DA and strong cooperation from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel, officials are hopeful that combined government, scientific, and local efforts will arrest the pest’s spread before it devastates the sugar industry.
