Rep. Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria (Neg. Or., 2nd District) is urging the national government to extend financial and logistical assistance to her province as the red-striped soft scale insect continues to damage sugarcane farms across Negros Island.
Sagarbarria raised the concern during the House Committee on Agriculture and Food hearing on proposed amendments to the Sugarcane Industry Development Act and the Sugar Regulatory Administration charter on Tuesday, Aug. 4, in Quezon City.
She said Negros Oriental had not received a national government allocation similar to the P235-million assistance package announced for farmers and anti-RSSI operations in Negros Occidental.
“I questioned why Negros Oriental was not included,” she added.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier announced P35 million for pesticides and drone-assisted spraying in Negros Occidental, including P10 million for chemicals and P25 million for drone services.
Another P200 million was set aside for P10,000 in emergency cash assistance to affected small farmers, with the initial list covering 12,327 beneficiaries and potentially expanding to 20,000.
Sagarbarria said the Negros Oriental provincial government has allocated P15 million from its Quick Response Fund for chemicals, spraying equipment and other measures against the pest.
The province was placed under a state of calamity on July 21 after RSSI was reported in 17,125 hectares out of its 48,901 hectares of sugarcane plantations.
The declaration allowed the provincial government to immediately access calamity funds and procure chemicals and equipment for distribution to affected local government units.
Sagarbarria said the provincial allocation would not be enough to address the expanding infestation.
“The provincial government can only allocate so much, so we also need intervention from the national government,” she said, adding “We cannot do it alone, and this is a national emergency case.”
She said mayors in the second district have also raised concerns because several sugar-producing areas, including Mabinay and Pamplona, are already experiencing the effects of the infestation.
Bais City, also in Negros Oriental, earlier declared a state of calamity after RSSI was reported in about 1,702 hectares of its sugarcane farms.
Sagarbarria said the pest should be addressed through an island-wide approach rather than separate interventions for Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
“RSSI does not recognize boundaries,” she said.
During the hearing, Sagarbarria also presented House Bill No. 3330, which seeks to amend Section 11 of Republic Act No. 10659, or the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015.
She said the measure seeks to strengthen the use of SRA funds for programs that improve sugar production and milling competitiveness.
Sagarbarria also proposed giving the SRA clearer authority over sugar importation to ensure that decisions consider domestic production and protect local farmers.
“With the SRA there, the sugar industry will be protected,” she said.
The House panel agreed to form a technical working group that will consolidate six pending measures seeking to amend SIDA, with Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) designated to lead the group.*
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