P1.81 BILLION IN LOSSES: Iloilo eyes state of calamity as sugar pest ravages farms

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo provincial government is moving to declare a province-wide state of calamity as the red striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation spreads across sugarcane areas.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said Wednesday that the province has met the requirements for the declaration after three local government units (LGUs) separately declared states of calamity over the infestation.

Passi City declared a state of calamity on Sept. 4, followed by San Enrique on Sept. 22 and Dueñas on Oct. 6.

Defensor said the province is also preparing protocols to guide its response to the RSSI.

“Since this is new, we have to make our own [protocols],” he said, noting that the protocols could be completed within a week.

Once the protocols are finalized, the provincial government will proceed with the request for the province-wide declaration and assess the province’s capacity to respond to the infestation.

Defensor said he has also discussed possible assistance for farmers affected by RSSI with Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the secretary’s visit to the province on Tuesday.

The national government has assistance available through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, which could provide financial aid to affected farmers.

The governor said the provincial government is also coordinating with the Community Defense Cluster on biosecurity measures to help contain the spread of the pest.

As of Oct. 5, a total of 10,342.72 hectares of agricultural areas in 27 LGUs have been affected by the RSSI infestation.

The infestation has also affected 9,491 farmers across the province.

According to data from the Provincial Agriculture Office, the estimated value of production losses in Iloilo’s sugarcane industry has reached PHP 1.18 billion.

Of the total losses, around PHP 122.47 million were attributed to totally damaged production, while approximately PHP 1.059 billion involved partially damaged crops.

Defensor noted that the pest’s spread appears to be influenced by weather conditions, slowing down during rainy periods but returning when temperatures rise.

“We will deal with this as a permanent problem, like ASF. We don’t think it is going away,” he said.

ASF refers to African swine fever, a viral disease that has hit the Philippine hog industry since 2019.

The governor also said that the province will have to strategize the use of its available emergency funds, given the need to remain prepared for other disasters.

He also pointed out that once a state of calamity is formally declared, assistance from the DSWD would be different.

The proposed declaration will still have to go through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan before it can take effect.

Under Republic Act 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, a declared state of calamity allows local governments to tap their Quick Response Fund for relief and recovery.

Presently, the province has PHP 82.96 million in its 30% Quick Response Fund (QRF) and PHP 193.57 million under the 70% Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) fund, including PHP 10 million earmarked for crop insurance for farmers.

It also has PHP 138.76 million in its 2024 and 2025 Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) trust fund.

The provincial government had already shifted into “disaster mode” in August as the RSSI infestation continued to spread.

The pest feeds on the sap of sugarcane plants, weakening the crop and potentially causing severe damage when infestation levels are high.

Sugarcane planters estimate that production could decline by 30% to 50% in heavily affected areas.

The pest was first observed spreading in the province around the third quarter of 2025 and has since reached more areas of the province.

In response, the province is prioritizing biological control, particularly the use of Metarhizium, a fungus that can infect and kill insect pests.

It is also testing natural enemies such as earwigs and Trichogramma as part of longer-term pest management.

The supply of biological control agents, however, remains a challenge.

Acting Provincial Agriculturist Geron Magbanua earlier said producing Metarhizium can take up to 60 days, while current capacity is estimated at about 500 hectares per release.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) are working to accelerate production, while the province is considering establishing an additional laboratory to expand its capacity.

The province has also used drones to apply biological control agents and foliar fertilizers in affected areas.

With limited options to recover heavily infested plantations, Magbanua said the province is shifting its focus to protecting the next sugarcane crop from the pest.

He urged farmers whose plantations remain unaffected to stay vigilant, regularly inspect their sugarcane for early signs of infestation, and promptly coordinate with local agriculture personnel if they detect RSSI.