Visayas Pest Fight Gets P35-M Boost

MANILA, Philippines — The government is stepping up efforts to contain red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) through a P35-million intervention in the Visayas. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the funds will cover chemical supplies and drone operations in sugarcane plantations across Negros Island and Western Visayas. The program will initially cover 25,000 hectares of farms but may expand to 40,000 to 45,000 hectares or more, depending on infestation levels. Agribusiness firm Universal Leaf Philippines will provide drones for aerial spraying, while the Philippine Air Force will deploy a C-140 aircraft to transport chemicals. Meanwhile, DA regional offices are redeploying spray cannon trucks to complement drone and backpack spraying operations. “Because the drones must fly lower over sugarcane for maximum effectiveness, daily coverage in Negros Island is expected to reach around 300 hectares,” the DA said. The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) developed fungal-based biological controls, but current output covers only about four hectares daily. The DA said it will continue chemical spraying while working with research institutions to expand biocontrol agent production nationwide. The SRA has also partnered with a Japanese technology firm to develop early RSSI detection systems in Negros starting August. The company previously developed systems for coconut scale insects and banana Fusarium wilt in Mindanao. “Our objective is to minimize crop losses, stabilize sugar production, and prevent unnecessary disruptions in supply,” SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said. Beyond pest control measures, the DA and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide P10,000 cash aid to each validated affected farmer. “This is about protecting an industry that supports thousands of farmers, workers, and their families,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said. “Every hectare we save means protecting livelihoods, preserving sugar production, and keeping one of the country’s most important agricultural industries strong. We intend to act quickly, decisively, and in close partnership with local governments,” he added. First detected in Pampanga, RSSI is a sap-sucking pest that damages sugarcane and promotes black sooty mold growth. If left uncontrolled, the pest could reduce sugar content in infested sugarcane by as much as 50 percent. The DA said RSSI has affected 93,898 of the 421,606 hectares planted to sugarcane this crop year, impacting more than 12,700 farmers nationwide. Nearly all affected areas, or 92,295 hectares, are in the Visayas, particularly Negros Island and Western Visayas. /pai INQ