Palace vows action on Negros sugar, crab crises

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Cabinet Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. assured the public that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring the crises affecting the sugar and blue swimming crab industries on Negros Island.

Abalos said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. had been directed to assess the concerns and determine the measures needed to address the problems confronting both industries.

“The President is on top of the situation,” he added.

Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental have declared states of calamity because of an infestation of the red-striped soft scale insect, or RSSI.

The infestation has affected 28,464.75 hectares of sugarcane farms, 11,461 farmers, and 423 barangays across the Negros Island Region, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration.

Sugarcane is one of the region’s primary agricultural products.

The Negros Occidental provincial government has decided to use biological control measures to combat the RSSI infestation.

The Negros Oriental provincial government, meanwhile, is prepared to release PHP 15 million from its Quick Response Fund to help contain the infestation through the procurement of systemic insecticides.

Aside from the RSSI infestation, Negros Occidental is also dealing with the effects of the United States’ closure of its market to Philippine blue swimming crab products beginning June 11.

The restriction was imposed after the Philippines failed to demonstrate compliance with U.S. marine mammal conservation and fisheries monitoring requirements.

The Negros Occidental Provincial Board earlier urged the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, to immediately take the measures needed to restore U.S. market access for Philippine blue swimming crab products.

During his visit to the province last Friday, Laurel said the government was working toward resuming blue swimming crab exports to the United States before the end of the year.

He cited the U.S. decision allowing the Philippines to reapply for market access.

Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez attended a recent public hearing with members of the Provincial Board, BFAR officials, and industry stakeholders, including fisherfolk, crabmeat pickers, buyers, and processors.

Benitez expressed support for the proposed Negros Occidental Blue Swimming Crab Sustainability and Management Ordinance of 2026.

He also committed to pushing in Congress for the country’s reapplication to the U.S. market.

“When the crab industry hurts, my constituents hurt,” Benitez said in a statement.

Benitez’s legislative district includes E.B. Magalona, which is known as the blue crab capital of Negros Occidental and is at the center of the province’s crab industry.

Benitez stressed that the United States did not question the safety of the local catch.

He said the issue was the lack of an effective system for reporting and monitoring the harvest, describing it as a documentation problem that the province could address.

According to Benitez, the proposed ordinance would establish the reporting and monitoring mechanisms sought by the United States.

It would also protect egg-bearing crabs from harvest to market and provide livelihood support for fishers.

Beyond the ordinance, Benitez committed to pushing in the House of Representatives for the country’s U.S. market reapplication to be filed, funded, and pursued.

He also said he would review the BFAR budget for the new administrative region.

Benitez added that he would support amendments to the Philippine Fisheries Code following a court ruling that opened municipal waters to commercial fishing vessels.

Abalos made the assurances during a courtesy call by the Negros Press Club, led by Prime Tejida, at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday.

He said his office would follow up on concerns involving the sugar and blue swimming crab industries.

“To the people of Negros, asahan niyo po ito,” he stressed.

Abalos said he would call on the concerned government agencies to discuss the issues and determine what must be done to address them.

President Marcos appointed Abalos, a former interior and local government secretary, as Cabinet secretary on July 8, 2026.

In his new role, Abalos helps coordinate Cabinet work, facilitate policy discussions, and strengthen cooperation among executive departments.

Abalos said his office had been receiving guests from across the country every day to listen to their concerns and act on them.

“I did not expect to be a Cabinet Secretary but the President wanted us to be near the people. Para lalong madama ng tao ang presence ng Malacañang,” he added.