The provincial government of Capiz has declared a state of calamity due to widespread damage caused by the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI).
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approved the state of calamity declaration during a special session on Monday, Aug. 10.
The declaration was recommended by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chaired by Governor Fredenil H. Castro.
The RSSI infestation has so far affected 3,331.61 hectares of sugarcane, impacting 1,819 sugarcane planters across eleven towns in the province.
The affected towns are Cuartero, Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, Jamindan, Maayon, Panitan, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, and Sigma.
The declaration will enable the provincial government to mobilize its resources to help affected farmers and contain further agricultural destruction.IMT
