BACOLOD CITY – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday announced the approval of a P10-million pesticide assistance from the national government to address the infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) mainly in Negros Island.

“Nandiyan na ang budget actually na procure na ng Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) ‘yung ginagamit na pesticide ngayon. Kung ano pa kailangang suporta ng national government sa SRA (The budget is already there and the SRA has actually procured the pesticide being used. Whatever additional support needed by the SRA) and Negros farmers, we will give it all,” he said on the sidelines of the launching of the P20 per kilo rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program here.

Laurel said he is personally checking on the affected sugarcane farms in Negros Occidental, and the strict monitoring on the enforcement of quarantine measures in the transport of sugarcane planting materials.

“Now we’re trying to crack down on it. Talagang bawal ‘yan (This is not really allowed) without permits,” the DA chief said.

He said the agency’s intelligence and enforcement personnel are investigating the source of the infected cane points.

The RSSI, which was first reported in Luzon in 2022, was contained by the SRA and the DA in 2024, but suddenly emerged in Negros Island last March.

In a separate interview, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the infestation in Negros Occidental should be quickly addressed to prevent a sugar supply shortage.

“We have to stop the infestation because majority of the sugar supply is from Negros. We have about 250,000 hectares (planted to sugarcane) and almost 500 hectares have been infected,” Azcona said.

In the event of severe infestation, sugar production will drop by 50 percent, he warned.

“We hope to control it to ensure that our production will not be affected. The milling season is almost over, which makes it easier (to address) since the travel of canes has already been reduced,” Azcona said.

According to SRA data, at least 13 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental have a reported presence of RSSI.

The pest was first monitored at the end of March in northern Negros, and an infestation was declared on May 22 when it spread to more than 87 hectares.

By May 26, the affected area increased to 191 hectares; May 28, about 255 hectares; and May 30, 424.82 hectares.

As of June 2, the infestation has already affected 546.10 hectares of sugarcane farms, the SRA reported on Thursday.

Earlier this week, a team from the DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry National Plant Quarantine Services Division, together with personnel of the SRA and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, began conducting field validation in northern Negros, the area with the highest RSSI infestation in Negros Island. (with PNA)