Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) is calling on all sugar industry stakeholders to sit down and come up with a single action plan to combat the rapid and widespread infestation of Red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) in Negros’ sugarcane fields.
Urgent action is needed, Yulo said Friday, July 17.
Yulo said he supports a science-based, hybrid approach, which he said is best left to experts to consider.
Under this hybrid strategy, Yulo explained that chemical spraying is required as an immediate, temporary solution in heavily infested areas. However, he noted that the eventual game plan must focus on developing biological control methods, which will take time to establish.
This call follows statements from Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who previously said Negros Occidental will “go green” in the fight against RSSI, and SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, who emphasized that immediate intervention is needed against RSSI because natural methods are not a quick solution.
Yulo also reported that armyworms have attacked corn fields in the hilly areas of Moises Padilla and Isabela, warning that immediate action must be taken before the pest spreads further.*
[sibwp_form id=1]