The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is requesting to place Negros Occidental under state of emergency as over 300 hectares in the province are now infested with red-striped soft scale insects.

"The highest area affected is concentrated in (Barangay) Maao and Victorias mill district, specifically in Bago City, Cadiz City, Manapla and Victoria," Assistant Agriculture Secretary Arnel De Mesa told reporters in Quezon City on Wednesday.

"Here, in Visayas, there are 546 sectors that are affected, in 46 barangays and 16 LGUs in the Visayas, affecting 294 sugarcane planters," he added.

De Mesa said a declaration of the state of emergency twill speed upthe procurement of insecticides to control the spread of the insects.

"The Administrator requested for a state of emergency, a declaration of state of emergency of the province, so that SRA can use its money, 5.4 million (pesos), to do emergency procurement. Because if there is no declaration of a state of emergency, when they bid, it will take a long time. It will take months to procure," he said.

"If there is an emergency declaration, they can do it for the purposes of procuring the medicines quickly. The SRA said that its fund of 5.4 million (pesos) is enough to cover the requirements to procure the necessary biologics and insecticide for the affected areas.," he added.

De Mesa said according to the SRA, the insects reduce the juice extracted from sugarcane.

"The juice that can be produced is reduced because it will not grow anymore. It will prevent it from growing. So, the content of the juice decreases," he said. Robina Asido/DMS