The Department of Social Welfare and Development has released of ₱553,893,025 in financial relief to sugarcane farmers and farm workers affected by the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insects (RSSI) infestation in Negros Island as of October 16 , DSWD Regional Director Arwin Razo said Monday.
The assistance was provided to 53,829 beneficiaries, comprising 48,001 sugarcane farmers and 5,828 laborers in Negros, he said.
Negros Occidental accounted for the vast majority of the disbursements, receiving ₱429,024,400 to assist 41,552 beneficiaries—consisting of 40,266 farmers and 1,286 laborers in legislative districts.
In Bacolod City 2,820 beneficiaries (1,232 farmers and 1,588 laborers) were also serve with a total payout of ₱29,116,500.
District 5 of Negros Occidental recorded the highest individual payout in the province at ₱155,587,425 distributed to 15,069 farmers, driven largely by the municipalities of La Castellana (4,781 farmers) and Himamaylan City (3,549 farmers).
District 6 followed with ₱137,074,700 allocated to 13,276 farmers, led by Kabankalan City with 6,675 served.
Meanwhile, District 3 received ₱65,636,025 for 6,357 beneficiaries, including 1,254 plantation laborers in Victorias City and 32 in Talisay City.
Other allocations across the province included District 1 at ₱23,726,850 (2,298 farmers), District 2 at ₱25,244,625 (2,445 farmers), and District 4 at ₱21,754,775 (2,107 farmers).
In Negros Oriental, the DSWD disbursed a total of ₱95,752,125 to 9,457 beneficiaries, which included 6,503 farmers and 2,954 laborers.
District 1 received the largest portion of the province’s funds at ₱48,741,750 for 4,814 beneficiaries, with Canlaon City accounting for ₱46,463,625 given to 1,635 farmers and all 2,954 of the province’s served laborers.
District 2 received ₱41,279,625for 4,077 farmers, primarily in Mabinay (2,607 farmers) and Bais City (839 farmers).
District 3 received ₱5,730,750 to assist 566 farmers across Bayawan City, Basay, Dauin, Santa Catalina, Siaton, and Zamboanguita.
The financial intervention aims to cushion the economic impact on sugar industry workers whose livelihoods and crop yields were severely affected by extreme climate events and agricultural disruptions.
DSWD regional operations continue to coordinate payouts to ensure remaining unserved sugarcane communities receive assistance, Razo said.*
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