News Details

SRA Fast-Tracks P10-M Aid to Combat Sugarcane Pest Outbreak in Negros Occidental

NPO

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July 25, 2025

MANILA – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) announced on Friday that it is fast-tracking the deployment of ₱10 million in government assistance to help sugarcane farmers in Negros Occidental battle the widespread red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation.

The intensified response comes in the wake of the province’s declaration of a state of calamity, prompted by the compounded effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the worsening pest outbreak that has already affected nearly 3,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona welcomed the provincial government’s move, saying it paves the way for urgent intervention.

“This declaration from the province will allow the SRA to hasten the procurement of pesticides as the first line of defense, based on research conducted by the National Crop Protection Center of the University of the Philippines,” Azcona said.
The Department of Agriculture has approved the ₱10-million fund specifically for pesticide acquisition, pending final clearance from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA).

In preparation, the SRA has already ordered its La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center to conduct a second round of studies on key pesticide formulations—Buprofezin, Dinotefuran, Phenthoate, Pymetrozine, and Thiamethoxam—to expedite their approval process.
Azcona emphasized the urgency of supporting smallholder farmers:

“With this, we can finally begin deploying assistance to our farmers so they can resume fieldwork and help their crops recover or at least remain protected from further RSSI damage.”
In addition to chemical treatment, the SRA is also exploring organic pest management strategies. Azcona ordered a reassessment of the affected areas to evaluate whether recent storms had a mitigating effect on pest populations and to initiate field testing of natural solutions, such as fungal-based biocontrol methods, for sustainable long-term use.

As of July 17, official reports show that 2,988 hectares of sugarcane farms have been infested across the Negros Island Region, with 2,931 hectares located in Negros Occidental alone.

NPO News Team!

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