SRA, HPCo launch organic sugarcane pest solution in Negros

By Dolly Yasa

SILAY CITY, Negros Occidental — The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has intensified its collaboration with Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCo) to combat the Red Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI), a destructive pest threatening sugarcane production in Negros Occidental, through an organic and eco-friendly pest management solution.

During a recent site visit, SRA Administrator and CEO Pablo Luis Azcona expressed full support for HPCo’s initiative, which focuses on a biological control approach aimed at suppressing RSSI populations while safeguarding beneficial insects essential to the ecological balance of sugarcane farms.

“Through this partnership, we’re not just solving today’s pest problem — we’re laying the groundwork for sustainable farming practices that will benefit generations of sugarcane farmers in Negros and beyond,” Azcona said.

Since June, HPCo’s technical team has been refining an organic treatment protocol customized for varying levels of RSSI infestation, in alignment with SRA’s sustainability programs.

The project accelerated significantly following the Aug. 10–16 visit of Israeli agricultural experts Yael Skutelsky and Nina Lehmann, who shared advanced biological pest control techniques, enabling HPCo to refine its treatment procedures and establish a systematic protocol involving assessment, spraying and monitoring.

“Our protocol focuses on disrupting pest growth and suppressing reproduction, without harming beneficial insects,” said Rodeo Suating, HPCo co-gen head and regulatory compliance officer.

Suating, who heads the technical team, added: “The aim is to lower the RSSI population to a threshold where natural predators can take over.”

To address this, the organic solution follows a three-phase treatment cycle: initial assessment and targeted spraying, follow-up evaluation with a potential second application, and final monitoring to confirm the resurgence of beneficial insects.

Initial trials were conducted in HPCo-managed cane fields before being extended to neighboring plantations.

Unlike conventional pesticides, which also eliminate beneficial insects, the HPCo protocol offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative.

“This effort is about protecting both our crops and our environment,” Suating emphasized, adding: “We want every farmer in our district to access this solution and be part of the fight against RSSI.”

HPCo Chairman Paul Andrew Curran affirmed the company’s commitment to roll out the program across its mill district, in partnership with local government units and planters’ associations.

Affected farms in Silay City and E.B. Magalona will receive the first round of the organic solution free of charge.

Farmers will be responsible for implementing the protocol on the ground, including field assessments, spraying and de-trashing.

RSSI infestations are commonly found on field perimeters, especially near roadsides, and can cause yellowing leaves, stunted growth and shortened internodes — symptoms that appear as early as two to three months after planting, with infestations peaking from the fourth to 10th month of cane growth.

This collaboration between SRA and HPCo underscores a shared commitment to sustainable agriculture and long-term productivity for Negros farmers.

By championing biological pest management, the initiative not only addresses the immediate threat of RSSI but also contributes to a more resilient and eco-conscious sugarcane industry.

“Through this partnership, we’re not just solving today’s pest problem — we’re laying the groundwork for sustainable farming practices that will benefit generations of sugarcane farmers in Negros and beyond,” Azcona concluded.