01/08/2026
🌱 Building a Stronger Frontline Against RSSI🌱
The Municipal Government of E.B. Magalona, through the leadership of Mayor Matthew Louis "Matt Malacon" and together with their Municipal Agriculture Office, facilitated a capacity-building activity for its Municipal RSSI Task Force on July 30, 2026. The training was conducted by PHILSURIN, together with invited resource speakers from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Hawaiian Philippine Company.
The activity covered the current RSSI situation, affected areas, and potential crop losses; the pest’s biology, life cycle, damage symptoms, and vulnerable stages; and biological-control options, including beneficial fungi and botanical pesticides. Participants also learned about modified pest-management protocols, field surveillance, damage assessment, mapping, documentation, reporting, and data management. These lessons were reinforced through a field simulation involving actual inspection, monitoring, containment and evaluation.
Participants were also encouraged to diversify and adopt new, high-performing sugarcane varieties to reduce production risks during serious pest outbreaks. The LGU shared to them that in support of this strategy, they had joined an on-going project that will facilitate the distribution of "PSR 03-171" sugarcane planting materials within the coming months. The intended recipients are local sugarcane farmers, with priority given to small farmers of E.B. Magalona.
PSR 03-171 has received encouraging feedback from different growing areas for its observed tolerance to RSSI. While continued field validation and proper monitoring remain important, its planned distribution is timely and offers farmers another promising option for strengthening crop resilience.
Through training, coordinated field action and access to improved planting materials, E.B. Magalona is taking practical steps toward protecting its farmers and sugarcane industry.
"Detect early. Respond quickly. Plant wisely. Protect sugarcane together."
Gina Bau Martin Gina Martin Negros Occidental - Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Hawaiian-Philippine Company
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