Sugar mills in Negros Occidental have started accepting sugarcane as the 2025-2026 crop year officially began on Monday, despite ongoing challenges from the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation affecting plantations in the province.
Although October 1 is the official start of the milling season, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) moved the date to the nearest Monday, which was September 29 this year.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona explained that this schedule marks the completion of a three-year transition to return the milling season’s start to the last quarter of the year. “Three years ago, it was Sept. 1. Then last year, it was Sept. 15. Moving forward, it will now officially be Oct. 1,” he said.
Several mills have already begun cane acceptance: URC La Carlota started on September 27 at its mill site and on September 29 at transloading stations; Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Co. (Biscom) Inc. began on September 27 and will start milling on September 30; First Farmers Holding Corp. in Talisay City commenced acceptance at transloading stations on September 27 and at the mill site on September 28; Victorias Milling Company Inc. started on September 27; and Hawaiian-Philippine Company in Silay City began receiving canes on September 29.
The mills noted that milling operations will commence once there is sufficient cane supply.
Azcona urged sugar farmers to remain vigilant and collaborate with the SRA to prevent the spread of RSSI, particularly in Negros and Panay. The RSSI infestation can reduce the sugar content of affected canes by nearly 50 percent, according to SRA studies.
