What a calamity declaration could unlock for Iloilo’s sugarcane farmers

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has endorsed a recommendation to declare a province-wide state of calamity as the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation affects 9,491 farmers and 10,342.72 hectares of agricultural land.

As of Oct. 5, the infestation affected sugarcane areas in 27 local government units, with estimated production losses reaching PHP 1.18 billion, according to the Provincial Agriculture Office.

The council endorsed the recommendation during its meeting on Oct. 13 at the Grand Social Hall of Casa Real de Iloilo.

It will be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for action.

Under Section 16 of Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, a local sanggunian may declare a state of calamity upon the recommendation of the local disaster risk reduction and management council, based on damage assessment and needs analysis.

Once approved, the declaration would enable the provincial government to access its Quick Response Fund (QRF) for emergency response and recovery, facilitate assistance to affected farmers, and implement additional measures to contain the infestation.

It could also help farmers access assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The QRF is a standby fund equal to 30% of a local government’s disaster risk reduction and management fund, and it may be tapped once a state of calamity is declared.

Acting Provincial Agriculturist Geron E. Magbanua said the province would initially tap its regular funds for its response.

“We will prioritize using our regular funds first. We will not yet utilize our QRF, although we have already been given the go-signal to use it. However, we still have to monitor other potential calamities, such as typhoons and a strong El Niño,” he said.

The province previously reported having PHP 82.96 million in its 30% QRF allocation, PHP 193.57 million under the 70% Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) fund, and PHP 138.76 million in its 2024 and 2025 Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management trust fund.

The MOOE allocation included PHP 10 million earmarked for crop insurance for farmers.

Magbanua said an early declaration would help protect farmers facing successive agricultural threats.

Dueñas, San Enrique, and Passi City earlier declared states of calamity due to the infestation on Oct. 6, Sept. 22, and Sept. 4, respectively.

The provincial government is also preparing financial assistance to help affected farmers purchase agricultural inputs.

Assistance will be based on damage assessments in each municipality.

Magbanua said the Provincial Agriculture Office still had PHP 15 million allocated for RSSI interventions.

Beyond immediate assistance, the province plans to establish two to three extension laboratories to expand the production of biological control agents.

Vacant government buildings are being considered for temporary facilities.

The provincial government and municipal agriculture offices will help multiply and distribute the biological control agents to affected farmers.

These efforts form part of a longer-term strategy to manage RSSI, including the use of Metarhizium, a fungus that infects insect pests, and the testing of natural enemies such as earwigs and Trichogramma, a genus of tiny parasitic wasps.

Limited production capacity remains a challenge.

Magbanua previously said producing Metarhizium could take up to 60 days, with existing production capacity estimated to cover about 500 hectares per release.

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

RSSI feeds on the sap of sugarcane plants, weakening crops and potentially causing severe damage during heavy infestations.

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

With limited options for recovering severely infested plantations, the provincial government is shifting its focus toward protecting the next sugarcane crop.

Farmers whose plantations remain unaffected have been urged to inspect their crops regularly for early signs of infestation and promptly coordinate with local agriculture personnel if they detect the pest.