Capiz declares state of calamity over RSSI infestation

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Capiz was placed under a state of calamity Monday, Aug. 10, because of a red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation affecting the province’s sugarcane farms.

Gov. Fredenil “Oto” Castro recommended the declaration to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan because of extensive damage to the province’s sugar industry and concerns that the pest could affect other crops, including corn and rice.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council adopted Resolution No. 6, Series of 2026, titled “A Resolution Recommending to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the Declaration of State of Calamity in the Province of Capiz due to Severe Red-striped Soft Scale (RSSI) Infestation.”

The provincial board unanimously approved the resolution during a recent special session.

RSSI is an invasive, sap-sucking pest that weakens sugarcane and promotes the growth of black sooty mold. The mold blocks sunlight, disrupts photosynthesis and reduces cane yield and sugar content, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The pest was first detected in the Philippines in 2022 and has become a recurring threat to the sugar industry.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, citing data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, reported that 3,331.61 hectares of sugarcane fields were affected from July through Aug. 10, 2026.

The report placed the number of affected sugarcane planters at around 1,819 across Cuartero, Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, Jamindan, Maayon, Panitan, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas and Sigma.

As of Aug. 10, about 76.68% of the province’s 4,345.10 hectares of sugarcane fields were affected by the infestation, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

The report provided the following municipality-level breakdown:

• Cuartero — 13 farmers and 14.50 hectares
• Dao — 35 farmers and 122.71 hectares
• Dumalag — 16 farmers and 12.50 hectares
• Dumarao — 123 farmers and 61.03 hectares
• Jamindan — 22 farmers and 18.25 hectares
• Maayon — 310 farmers and 533.33 hectares
• Panitan — 85 farmers and 207.70 hectares
• Pilar — 535 farmers and 729.24 hectares
• Pontevedra — 365 farmers and 890.61 hectares
• President Roxas — 265 farmers and 176.02 hectares
• Sigma — 211 farmers and 565.72 hectares

The municipality-level figures total 1,980 farmers, which is 161 more than the reported provincial total of 1,819.

Of the affected sugarcane fields, 118.19 hectares were totally damaged and 3,213.41 hectares were partially damaged.

Pontevedra had the largest affected area at 890.61 hectares, followed by Pilar with 729.24 hectares and Sigma with 565.72 hectares.

Nationwide, 93,898 of the country’s 421,606 hectares planted with sugarcane had been affected as of late July, according to the Department of Agriculture. Of the affected area, 92,295 hectares were in the Visayas.

Under the Price Act, a state-of-calamity declaration automatically freezes the prevailing prices of basic necessities for 60 days unless the president lifts the freeze earlier.

Republic Act No. 10121 also allocates 30% of a local government’s disaster risk reduction and management fund as a quick-response fund for relief and recovery programs.