Pest infestation threatens Iloilo sugarcane crops

ILOILO CITY — The provincial government of Iloilo is preparing to declare a province-wide state of calamity following a severe infestation of the red striped soft scale insect that has caused over P1.1 billion in damage to local sugarcane fields.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. announced on Wednesday that the province has satisfied statutory requirements for a provincial declaration after three municipal local government units — Passi City, San Enrique and Dueñas — enacted local states of calamity.

The proposed declaration will go before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for formal review and approval, with provincial authorities targeting passage before the end of the week.

Data from the Provincial Agriculture Office indicates that the scale insect infestation has spread across more than 10,000 hectares in 27 municipalities, directly affecting over 9,500 agricultural workers and smallholder farmers.

The red striped soft scale insect feeds primarily on sugarcane sap, weakening crop yields and threatening surrounding agricultural lands cultivated for corn, coconut and other staple crops.

Declaring a state of calamity enables local government units to tap emergency disaster response funds, implement price freezes on basic goods, and expedite agricultural relief assistance to impacted farming communities across Panay Island.