The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Thursday reported that the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation in Visayan sugarcane fields has expandedw to 1,505 hectares, an 11.5 percent increase from 1,350 hectares five days prior. The pest, primarily affecting Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, and Negros Oriental, is known to slash sugar content by up to 50 percent.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona warned of the infestation’s rapid spread, calling it “worrisome,” while noting that the true extent may be underreported due to uncoordinated local efforts. Azcona said only 97 hectares show signs of recovery.
To hasten the response, the SRA is urging local governments in severely affected areas to declare a state of calamity. This would expedite pesticide procurement and distribution. “Without proper data, our hands are tied,” Azcona said, despite the Department of Agriculture (DA) having already approved ₱10 million for pesticide acquisition.
The SRA is calling on sugar groups and farmers to report infestation levels through official channels to ensure a coordinated response.
Despite the pest crisis, the DA and SRA remain optimistic about local sugar production. As of 8 June, sugar output reached 2.015 million metric tons, up 4.7 percent year-on-year, with expectations to meet the 2.3 million MT demand under sustained industry support.
Retail sugar prices in Metro Manila range from ₱65 to ₱90 per kilogram depending on the type, while millsite prices for raw sugar slightly dipped to ₱2,712.55 per 50-kg bag as of 1 June.
