DIAZ
BACOLOD CITY – The province of Negros Oriental has been placed under a state of calamity due to Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation.
The declaration was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) presided over by Vice Gov. Cezanne Fritz Diaz on Tuesday, July 21.
Diaz said this is a big challenge for the province as sugarcane is one of the sources of livelihood of the people.
He is hopeful that the national government can extend assistance to the provincial government and farmers in addressing this concern.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported that about 1,900 hectares of sugarcane farms have been hit by RSSI.
The province of Negros Occidental has also declared a state of calamity due to RSSI, affecting 61,242 hectares, representing 32.18 percent of the province’s 190,314.19 hectares planted to sugarcane.
Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel "Chaco" Sagarbarria backed aerial spraying but Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson supported the environmental-friendly biological control response to combat RSSI.
Aside from RSSI, the two provinces are also addressing the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF).