Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona visited sugarcane plantations in Bacolod City on Thursday as part of heightened efforts to address the spread of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI), a pest endangering sugar production on Negros Island, according to the release.
Secretary Tiu Laurel noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to respond promptly to control the infestation and stop it from spreading in the country’s leading sugar-producing area.
“We’re conducting ongoing pesticide spraying. With help from the SRA and our regional office, I believe we can quickly manage this issue,” Tiu Laurel said.
Administrator Azcona mentioned that SRA scientists have found a parasite capable of naturally managing RSSI populations. “However, that method will take time. For now, immediate action is necessary, so we are using chemical pesticides,” said Azcona, who also serves as SRA’s CEO.
To support the containment efforts, the DA has allocated P10 million for pesticide procurement.
Tiu Laurel also directed the Bureau of Plant Industry to investigate the source of suspected pest-carrying planting materials from Luzon. “This situation highlights the critical need to observe quarantine measures to avoid future outbreaks,” he said.
Looking forward, the Agriculture Secretary laid out strategies to enhance sugar output, including improved irrigation, soil enhancement with agricultural lime, and sourcing better-yielding planting materials.
“Increasing our sugar yield could significantly lessen or even eliminate our dependence on sugar imports,” he added.
According to SRA figures, the Visayas produces 71 percent of the country’s sugar, with Negros Island accounting for 63 percent of that. The rest comes from sugar-growing areas in Panay, Cebu, and Leyte.
