The red striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation in the Visayas has spread to over 2,330 hectares of sugarcane farms as of July 2, 2025, prompting urgent response from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and allied agencies to stem further damage.
Data from SRA’s latest field validation showed that 1,326 farmers across 113 barangays have been affected, with the bulk of the infestation concentrated in Negros Occidental, which accounted for 2,281 hectares or 98 percent of the total affected area.
The hardest-hit municipalities include Bago City with 267 ha., Talisay City with 224 ha., Murcia with 223 ha. and Cadiz City with 261 ha.
Since late May, the affected area has ballooned from just 87 hectares on May 22 to more than 2,280 hectares by July 2, 2025, a staggering 2,521-percent increase over six weeks.
The number of farmers impacted also surged from 76 to 1,290 in the same period.
To contain the spread, the SRA has formed an inter-agency task force with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units.
The agency has also distributed localized educational materials and conducted stakeholder consultations to align interventions.
SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona recommended a declaration of a state of urgency in affected localities to fast-track quarantine protocols and pesticide procurement.
The DA has approved a P10-million pesticide assistance fund, while the SRA continues to tap its Quick Response to Pest Outbreak resources through its Mill District Development Councils (MDDCs).
Meanwhile, around 232 hectares in affected areas are reportedly in recovery, including parts of Silay City, Manapla, Murcia and Bago City in Negros Occidental, and small pockets in Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Oriental, following prompt interventions such as leaf de-trashing, off-site burning and pesticide applications.
The agency is also developing a software dashboard for real-time reporting and tracking of RSSI infestations to support more timely responses in future outbreaks.
