Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has not issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in response to the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation in sugarcane fields in Negros Occidental.
Lacson, on Tuesday, July 15, explained that such a declaration sought by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) cannot be made through an executive order, it requires the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Instead, he will issue an executive order for the creation of a task force, composed of representatives from the provincial government and SRA, to monitor the RSSI, Lacson said.
An SRA official will serve as the action officer for this task force, he said.
Lacson said he left the declaration of a state of emergency to local government units whose sugarcane fields have been hit by RSSI, but so far, none has been made.
The current percentage of the area affected by RSSI, which is just over 1 percent of the estimated 250,000 hectares of sugarcane fields in Negros Occidental , is not substantial enough to warrant a province-wide state of calamity declaration, he said.
But Lacson also stressed the importance of taking immediate action to prevent the spread of RSSI.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said on Monday that Negros Occidental has the highest total area hit by RSSI, at 2,876.28 hectares.
He said the SRA is waiting for an order from Lacson declaring a “state of urgency or state of calamity” to hasten the procurement of pesticides for distribution to agrarian reform beneficiaries to prevent further spread of the RSSI.
Azcona explained that such a declaration would enable them to immediately utilize P10 million from the Department of Agriculture and P5 million from the SRA for pesticide purchases.
Lacson on Tuesday said “That was not explained to me. I have to also consult with legal if I am in a position to declare a state of emergency”.*