SRA seeks P10-M for sugarcane pest response in Negros Island, Western Visayas

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RSSI has so far affected about 424.82 hectares of sugarcane fields in 16 towns and cities across the NIR and two provinces in Western Visayas

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is seeking a P10-million budget from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to mount an emergency response to a destructive insect infestation spreading across sugarcane plantations in the Negros Island Region (NIR) and Western Visayas.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the proposed budget would cover pesticides, operations, and technical assistance for farmers to curb the spread of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI).

The SRA has sought emergency powers, citing the RSSI infestation as “alarming,” and called on local governments affected to declare states of calamity.

As of Monday, June 2, RSSI has infested about 424.82 hectares of sugarcane fields in 16 towns and cities across the NIR and two provinces in Western Visayas.

Affected areas in Negros Occidental include Bacolod, La Carlota, Cadiz, Bago, Silay, Sagay, Victorias, La Castellana, EB Magalona, Calatrava, Toboso, Murcia, and Manapla. In Negros Oriental, the affected locality is Mabinay, while in Western Visayas, the towns of Anilao in Iloilo and Sigma in Capiz have also reported infestations.

Albert Barrogo, acting director of DA-NIR, said on Wednesday, June 4, that SRA’s request for emergency powers is valid to facilitate emergency purchases of pesticides. However, he was uncertain whether such authority should come from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Barrogo cited the government procurement law, which allows emergency purchases under three conditions: unforeseen contingencies, imminent danger to life or property, and time-sensitive situations – all of which apply to the current situation.

Officials confronted by the infestation problem said procurement and audit procedures required by the Commission on Audit (COA) are slowing down the SRA’s ability to respond swiftly.

While SRA wants to proceed with the emergency procurement of pesticides to combat RSSI (Pulvinaria tenuivalvata), the agency remains bound by the strict procurement rules. 

Based on the law, government agencies are only allowed emergency purchases up to P100,000. Anything beyond that must go through a competitive bidding process that typically takes at least three months.

SRA Deputy Administrator for Research and Development Ignacio Santillana said the agency initially prepared only P1.5 million for pesticide procurement, but it still must comply with COA rules.

While the scale of damage justifies emergency measures, Barrogo said, “COA rules will always prevail.”

Tiu Laurel is scheduled to visit Negros Occidental on Thursday, June 5, to assess the infestation. 

“By then, we will know the next action, especially, about this proposed emergency purchase of pesticides,” Barrogo said.

In the meantime, pesticide supplies from the DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) arrived in Negros Occidental on Monday, but these are only sufficient to cover 100 hectares of infested fields.

The DA-BPI National Plant Quarantine Services Division also began validating the infestation on the same day. A disinfection vehicle from DA-NIR is on standby for use in spraying operations.

The infestation was first detected in late March in four towns and cities in Negros Occidental. According to SRA, it originated from cane points or “patdan” brought in by a sugar planter from Luzon during the first quarter of the year.

RSSI is not new to the country. It was first reported in Pampanga and Tarlac in 2022. While the SRA previously declared the Luzon infestation contained, the pest has since spread to NIR and Western Visayas, causing extensive damage. – Rappler.com