DA-BPI team validating RSSI infestation in northern Negros

Category : News | Sub Category : Provincial Posted on 2025-06-04 03:03:29

PNA

BACOLOD CITY – Personnel of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) National Plant Quarantine Services Division has started conducting field validation in the northern part of Negros Occidental, which has recorded the highest area of infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) in Negros Island.

DA-Negros Island Region Director Albert Barrogo said in an interview that the team from the DA-BPI central office arrived on Monday and proceeded to northern Negros on Tuesday.

“They are validating the affected areas, and we’re hoping by tomorrow, we can dispatch the disinfection vehicles to spray these areas,” he added.

Barrogo said farmers whose sugarcane fields have been infested can request spraying through the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

Data released by the SRA on Monday showed at least 13 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental have a reported presence of RSSI.

The presence of the pest was first noted 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, almost doubled to 424.82 hectares.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the SRA are coordinating with the local chief executives in the Victorias Milling District, covering the cities of Victorias and Cadiz and the municipality of Manapla, where almost 50 percent of the infestation or 219 hectares of sugarcane farms have been affected.

The presence of RSSI has also been reported in Mabinay, Negros Oriental and Anilao, Iloilo.

Following an inter-government agency meeting at the SRA Visayas office here Monday, Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona called for strict quarantine measures on the movement of canes and planting materials, citing studies showing that the pest might have been accidentally brought into Negros after it was reported in Luzon three years ago.

“RSSI was first observed in Luzon in 2022 and contained by the SRA and the DA in 2024. It is surprising how it got to Negros where 65 percent of the industry is present,” he said.

Azcona said the SRA needs the assistance of the DA-BPI to ensure that while the infestation is not yet contained, the transport of planting materials between islands and affected areas should be stopped.

“I am confident we can arrest this with the help and cooperation of everyone, but if we don’t, this is hitting the sugar industry at its heart because Negros is also the major source of sugar for the country. Negros also supplies high-yielding cane points for Mindanao,” he added.