THE National Government approved the P10-million assistance for the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to contain the spread of Red-Striped Soft Scale Insects (RSSI) in Negros Island, which accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s sugar produce.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who was in Bacolod City on Thursday, June 5, 2025, said they already approved the budget for the procurement of the pesticide and he visited the affected areas in Negros Occidental on Thursday.
He said the National Government will assist the needs of the SRA to curb the spread of the SRRI, as well as the needs of the farmers.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona earlier sent a letter requesting P10-million assistance from the DA to contain the RSSI.
SRA records showed that as of June 5, 2025, a total of 13 towns and cities in Negros Occidental, which composed of 46 barangay, and one town each in Negros Oriental, Capiz and Iloilo, or a total of 546.10 hectares of sugarland, have been affected by RSSI.
It added that it affected a total of 294 farmers.
Azcona earlier said that RSSI was first observed in Luzon in 2022 and contained by SRA and the DA in 2024.
He said it is surprising how it got to Negros where 65 percent of the industry is present and he is asking the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Plan Industry (BPI) “to disallow entry of planting materials whether it’s for commercial or research purposes without a certification from SRA, and or the DA.”
Azcona noted that RSSI’s presence was first noted in end of March in northern Negros Occidental and was declared an infestation in May 22 when it spread in over 87 hectares.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) also said that they will seek the guidance of Provincial Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on how can they help put a policy in place so that a coordinated response from all government agencies be implemented as soon as possible.
OPA and SRA will also coordinate with the chief executives in the Victorias Milling District, which covers the cities of Victorias and Cadiz and the town of Manapla, which accounts for almost half of the infestation covering 219 hectares. (MAP)