Visayas sugar farm insect infestation prompts emergency meeting

BACOLOD CITY—A massive insect infestation threatening thousands of hectares of sugarcane plantations in the Visayas has prompted an emergency meeting between sugar producers and Negros Occidental officials on Tuesday, June 23.

United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) President Manuel Lamata said the federation will meet with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to address the rapid spread of the Red Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI).

Lamata said the infestation is expanding at an alarming rate, with affected areas doubling almost weekly, raising fears among sugar planters—particularly small farmers—over the potential impact on their crops and livelihoods.

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The SRA reported on June 18 that RSSI-affected areas across the Visayas had surged to 4,847.63 hectares, more than double the infestation recorded six days earlier, indicating an accelerated spread of the pest.

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READ: Pest ravages sugarcane farms in the Visayas

Alarmed by the situation, Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo on June 19 called for an assessment on the possible declaration of a state of calamity and urged the immediate creation of a provincial task force to contain the outbreak.

While RSSI was first detected last year, Lamata said the pest initially appeared when sugarcane crops were mature. Although it caused damage at the time, he warned that the current outbreak is far more severe and requires urgent intervention from both government agencies and private stakeholders.

Lamata said sugar is the “lifeblood of Negros Island,”  noting that planters suspect RSSI contributed to last year’s decline in sugar production and could inflict even greater losses if left unchecked.

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READ: Negros solon urges creation of dedicated body to solve pest infestation

To strengthen response efforts, Lamata has invited SRA Administrator Pablo Azcona and members of the inter-agency RSSI Task Force to discuss coordinated measures against the infestation.

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He acknowledged that while the SRA continues to conduct research and provide assistance, including cultivation of beneficial fungi and other biological control methods, the agency lacks sufficient manpower and resources to fully monitor the infestation and validate the extent of crop damage across the island.

Lamata stressed that combating RSSI will require a united effort from government, industry groups, and local communities, warning that the pest now poses a serious threat not only to sugar production but also to the long-term sustainability of the sugar industry./coa

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