• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation continues to wreak havoc on sugarcane fields in Visayas, especially in Negros Occidental, with 4,324.77 hectares having been affected, as of September 2.
Negros Occidental registered the most affected area at 4,113.60 hectares, followed by Iloilo – 83.69 ha, Leyte – 73.18 ha, Capiz – 29.50 ha, and 24.80 ha in Negros Oriental, SRA records showed.
It affected 1,415 farmers in 102 barangays of Negros Island, Iloilo, Capiz, and Leyte.
When the RSSI infestation was discovered on May 22 this year, the pests initially affected 87.04 hectares.
As of August 19, the SRA reported that 291.98 hectares of affected sugarcane fields have recovered from the infestations.
The SRA has ordered a prohibition on the transport of sugarcane plants and planting materials from areas under quarantine due to pests, such as the RSSI, unless a specific permit is obtained.
Sugar Order No. 6 and the implementing Memorandum Circular 9 (series of 2025) require these permits for both commercial and research purposes, and transport is only allowed after verified preventive measures like washing and chemical spraying have been applied.
“No sugarcane plants or planting materials shall be transported outside of (these) barangays, municipalities or provinces whether for commercial or research purposes, except when supported by a permit to transport duly issued by the SRA,” the directive said.
Transport will only be allowed once appropriate preventive measures, such as washing and spraying of proper chemicals, have been instituted, it added.
The goal of these strict biosecurity measures is to prevent the spread of destructive diseases and pests that threaten the sugar industry.
The SRA is also closely coordinating with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) quarantine services unit in enforcing the requirement.
“The RSSI attacks sugarcane leaves and reduces sugar content by about 50 percent, and if not contained, it may wipe out the sugar industry not just in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Panay but eventually in the rest of the country,” the SRA said.* with PNA reports
