Nelson Morales

Gov't ready to issue emegency permit for insecticides vs Northern Negros infestation

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) coordinated with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority to ensure it is ready to issue an emergency use permit (EUP) for insecticides meant to curb a pest infestation in Northern Negros Occidental.According to DA Spokesperson Arnel De Mesa, the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños initially found the insecticides Buprofezin, Dinotefuran, Phenthoate, Pymetrozine, and Thiamethoxam effective in controlling red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI), but they still need a second trial.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/5/20/da-eyes-expanding-p20-kilo-rice-program-1746">DA eyes expanding P20/kilo rice program</a></div>The insecticides have been shown to be effective in controlling red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) but are not yet authorizedfor use on sugracane, De Mesa said during a press briefing at the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City on Wednesday, May 21. NCPC will need to conduct a second trial which could lead to the FPA issuing an emergency-use permit.In the meantime, De Mesa said, the DA is coordinating with other regions to quarantine the RSSI and keep the infestation from spreading.<div></div>In a press release, the Sugar Regulatory Administration said it is watching six areas in Northern Negros Occidentally after sugar farms reported an infestation of RSSI. This is said to reduce sugar content by nearly 50%.According to SRA Chief Science Research Specialist Raphael Henri Mundo, infestations had been reported in parts of Luzon in 2023.&quot;So this is for us, this is a case of unintentional reproduction. And siguro &#x27;yung mga pag-move ng mga planting materials, &#x27;yun &#x27;yung naging route nung pagpasok po sa atin,&quot; Mundo said.(It&#x27;s possible that they were transported along with planting materials. That&#x27;s how they got in)The agency has instructed its personnel to ask farmers to exercise caution in the movement of their materials.Mundo added, when they received reports of the presence of the insect, their initial goal was to keep this from reaching Negros Island, which accounts for more than half of sugar production in the country.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/5/19/chicken-eggs-remain-safe-to-eat-bureau-of-animal-industry-1818">Chicken, eggs remain safe to eat: Bureau of Animal Industry</a></div>&quot;So it seems hindi nangyari &#x27;yung aming inaasahan. So we need to manage and eradicate this soft scale insect. So nasa North Negros po siya ngayon,&quot; Mundo said.(It seems things did not go the way we wanted... the insect is not in North Negros)The SRA established a task force led by SRA board member David Andrew Sanson to manage the infestation.He has asked farmers to stop transporting planting materials from Luzon and other infected areas.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) coordinated with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority to ensure it is ready to issue an emergency use permit (EUP) for insecticides meant to curb a pest infestation in Northern Negros Occidental.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) coordinated with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority to ensure it is ready to issue an emergency use permit (EUP) for insecticides meant to curb a pest infestation in Northern Negros Occidental.