A total of 134,386.10 hectares have been reported to be affected by the Red Striped Soft-Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation, representing 31.90 percent of the country’s sugarcane plantations nationwide.
The Visayas, specifically Negros Occidental, was the worst hit, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
The SRA said the reported RSSI-affected areas in the Visayas cover 131,475.66 hectares, or 47.77 percent of its sugarcane fields. This is followed by Mindanao with 2,274.51 hectares (2.32 percent) and Luzon with 753.93 hectares (1.63 percent).
Of the total affected area reported as of August 14, the SRA has validated 67,443.76 hectares across 1,093 barangays, affecting 39,281 farmers.
Within the Visayas, the Negros Island Region is the hardest hit, with 114,585 hectares reported affected, representing 47.90 percent of its sugarcane fields.
In Negros Occidental—the country’s sugar bowl—95,140.92 hectares have been affected, alongside 19,444 hectares in Negros Oriental, the SRA said.
So far, 58,374 hectares of the total Negros Island area have been validated across 896 barangays, affecting 34,130 farmers.
The SRA said that while RSSI remains a significant threat to the sugar industry, coordinated government interventions have successfully suppressed its expansion rate.
The stabilization observed following the initial outbreak in 2025 indicates that surveillance, monitoring, and integrated pest management strategies successfully slowed the progression of the infestation across affected areas.
The sharp increase recorded in June 2026 reflects both a resurgence of the infestation and the result of intensified validation efforts, the agency noted. Rather than indicating a failure of previous interventions, this surge underscores the dynamic nature of RSSI outbreaks and the need for sustained vigilance.
The SRA added that “wWith the dry spell and heavy traffic of planting materials, among other factors, we can see a very high exponential increase in RSSI cases.”
In response, the SRA has intensified field monitoring, validation, technical assistance, and coordinated pest management operations to contain the renewed spread, protect unaffected plantations, and minimize production losses.
Overall, the data emphasizes that continuous monitoring, early detection, rapid intervention, and strong inter-agency collaboration remain essential to preventing widespread infestation and safeguarding sugarcane production, especially in the Visayas, it said.
The SRA said that it has provided ₱9.2 million in insecticide assistance, ₱8 million of which was allocated to Negros Occidental.
The local government units worst affected by RSSI in Negros Occidental are Kabankalan City, Cadiz City, Sagay City, La Castellana, and Talisay City.
The top affected areas in Negros Oriental are Bayawan City, Bais City, Mabinay, Manjuyod, and Canlaon City.
