Lacson rejects aerial spraying, backs green RSSI control

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has rejected a proposal for aerial pesticide spraying to combat the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), which has affected more than 30% of the province’s 190,314.19 hectares of planted sugarcane area.

In a media interview Tuesday, Lacson said the provincial government would pursue natural methods and support biological control.

“We will go green and will not fund aerial spraying. That’s the stand of the province,” he added.

The move came after a group pushed for aerial pesticide spraying to control the infestation.

Lacson said many sectors had expressed concerns that massive aerial spraying could affect public health, livestock, and fisheries.

“We don’t know the wind direction. We have sugarlands right beside densely populated barangays, aquaculture, and livestocks,” he said.

He stressed that the province would pursue a green approach to controlling RSSI and future pest problems.

On June 30, the provincial government declared a state of calamity because of the RSSI infestation, which posed a serious threat to the sugar industry, agricultural economy, and livelihoods of thousands of sugarcane farmers, farmworkers, and other stakeholders.

About 61,242 hectares, or 32.18% of Negros Occidental’s 190,314.19 hectares of sugarcane fields, had been reported affected by the infestation.

The provincial government later formed a Provincial Biosecurity Task Force for Agriculture to coordinate the containment, control, management, and rehabilitation of areas affected by RSSI and other biological pests.

The task force’s action plan includes genome sequencing of RSSI, mass breeding of local parasitoids and predatory insects, production of beneficial fungi, and budget preparation for field operations.

On July 10, a forum was held at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, where experts presented aerial spraying and drone application as possible control measures.

The province had previously declared a state of calamity in July 2025 because of Tropical Cyclone Crising and the RSSI outbreak.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria earlier welcomed the proposed aerial spraying, saying the biggest challenge would be conducting a coordinated operation.

“It has to be a one time big time thing. We have to do it together at once,” he added.

The Negros Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recently approved a resolution recommending the declaration of a state of calamity across the province because of the continued spread of RSSI.

The infestation has been reported in the cities of Bais, Bayawan, and Guihulngan and the municipality of Mabinay, as well as other nearby areas, posing a serious threat to the province’s sugar industry and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.

Earlier Sugar Regulatory Administration data showed that about 1,465 hectares of sugarcane farms across 56 barangays in Negros Oriental had been affected based on validated field inspections.