PS. Pwede ba gumamit ng abbreviations pagformal essay?

Ang mga nakahighlight na yellow di ko sure

Yung mga green ay ang mga references

Effectiveness of Sterile Insect Technique in controlling oriental fruit flies in

the Guimaras, Philippines from year 1996-2006

Mango or Mangifera indica, the Philippines national fruit, is one of the main
fruit crops cultivated in the Philippines for its delectable taste (Agriculture and
Fisheries
Market Information Service, 2009). In fact, one of the major contributors to the
agricultural sector of the Philippines is the Philippine mango industry. According also
to AFMIS (2009), during the 2007 to 2009 agriculture GVA, the mango industry
sector contributes as much as 18.5 billion yearly. However Philippine agriculture is
suffering from the attack of oriental fruit flies. Oriental fruit flies (Bactrocera
philippinensis) not only affect the production and quality of mango fruits but also
hinder economic development and generate constraints in the international market.

In order to solve the problem, Philippine Nuclear Institute of the Department

of Science and Technology (DOST-PNRI) together with the Bureau of Plant Industry-
National Mango Research and Development Center (BPI-NMRDC) adopted integrated
fruit fly management program by the application of sterile insect technique in
Guimaras Island, Philippines to control the population of oriental fruit flies.

This study attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of sterile insect technique

in controlling oriental fruit flies in Guimaras from 1996-2006. The study was
conducted to give clarification on some issues about the accessibility of the
technique by farmers and the cost of utilizing the technique. After thorough
evaluation, the researcher argues that even though the infestation of destructive
fruit flies in mangoes of Guimaras can be effectively solved using sterile insect
technique, there is a need to improve monitoring and resources management for
the measure to be successfully applied.

The oriental fruit flies are destructive pests of fruit that damages the plant
tissues of fruit crops prior to harvest. They belong to the Tephritidae family. These
fruit flies impact greatly agricultural trade. Because of infestation of fruit flies, some
pest-free countries do not allow import of fruits from countries affected by the fruit
flies since they are avoiding introduction of the pest to them (Food and Agriculture,
2015). According to Manoto et al. (1999), damage about thirteen of a hundred on
the present production of fruit in the Philippines is caused by fruit fly pests. Damage
limits the production of high quality fruits and production of fruits in great number.
As a result, the income in the farm every year is decreased by about P13.4 million.
Profit gained from export is included in the loss especially when the quality of
Philippine fruits cannot meet the strict regulations on quality of fruits implemented
by countries like Japan, USA, and Australia.

Because insect pests just not simply affect the production of fruits but also
greatly affect the economy of the country, sterile insect technique is widely
adopted. Sterile insect technique or SIT is a technique developed in line with
Biotechnology to control insect pests of different species. It is used in eradicating
crop pests, human pests and animal pests.

In the Philippines, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department

of Science and Technology (PNRI-DOST) with the coordination of the Bureau of Plant
Industry-National Mango Research and Development Center (BPI-NMRDC) are the
agencies who are responsible of the implementation of integrated fruit fly
management program through SIT in Guimaras Island to address the problem of
infestation of fruit flies in mango fruits. (DOST-PNRI, 2004)

Sterile insect technique includes numerous processes. First, the target insect
pests are made sterile by irradiation of gamma radiation through the mass rearing
facility that is present at PNRI (DOST-PNRI, 2004). The mass rearing facility is the
technology that produces about 8 million pupae of fruit flies a week prior to release
in Guimaras. Then, the sterile male insects in great population will be transported
and released in Guimaras where there is high record of manifested pests.
 Transportation of fruit flies is achieved with the use of carton boxes. The
pupae inside the carton boxes are flown from the Philippine Nuclear Research
Institute to Iloilo with the help of the Philippine Airlines (PAL). Arriving at the Iloilo
airport, the pupal boxes is transferred to an air-conditioned van and then after,
transferred again to a pump boat that is hired in order to arrive at the Buenavista
wharf and then transported using the NMRDC vehicle to the laboratory of Guimaras
where experiments and tests are held. Two batches are required for the transport of
pupae of sterile fruit fly to be achieved in one day interval for every schedule of
release (Manoto et al., 1999; Labiste 2002).

Operation of the sterile insect technique really demands effort, time, care and
money as manifested in the transportation of the sterile fruit flies. Manoto et al.
(1999) additionally discusses that the technology used for the release of sterile fruit
flies in air was BPI Cesna plane with a funnel placed at the back left side of the
aircraft. The funnel serves as a passageway when bags are to be dropped. The
release of sterile fruit flies on the ground was operated in a place where CPTD or the
average number of flies caught per trap per day was greater than one and where
there was observed great infestation in the fruit.

Rhode (1969) argues that usual problems in releasing sterile fruit flies in the
air is the bad weather condition in the region since weather is unpredictable and
varies from time to time. In order for the release to be effective, operations must be
flexible in terms of the weather conditions and the equipment that will be used. Bad
weather may not be avoided but the operation will be still successfully done if the
distribution of the sterile fruit flies is pre-scheduled to prevent interfering with the
bad weather.

After the transport and release of fruit flies, the next process to be
accomplished is to monitor the population of both sterile and non-sterile fruit flies.
As explained by the International Atomic Energy Agency(n.d.), after the release, the
sterile male insects would compete with the wild male insects in mating with wild
female insects. Therefore, it is needed for the population of the sterile male insects
and the wild male insects to be relatively high for the competition between the two
insects to be successful. If the competition would be successful, then the sterile
male insects that mated to the wild female insects will produce infertile egg and
irradiated pupae. Not allowing the eggs to develop and multiply, as a consequence,
the population of the insect would decrease rapidly.

Helen Bignayan, a senior agriculturist of NMRDC, stated as cited by Labiste

(2002) that for the reduction of population of fruit flies to be assured, population of
fruit fly must be monitored. Monitoring the population of the fruit flies is of great
importance in order to determine whether the population of the non-sterile fruit flies
has really declined or not to make necessary adjustments and improvements on the
operation. Population is counted by suspending the board with methyl eugenol that
attracts male fruit flies, a substance that smells like a female fruit fly when in heat
and also Melathion which is an effective poison.

Furthermore, methods of monitoring the population of fruit flies also include

fluorescent dye detection method or head crashing detection method that is used to
know whether the fruit flies captured are sterile or wild. In fluorescent dye detection
method, 4 parts of acetone and 1 part of ethyl alcohol of a solvent was dispensed to
the body of the captured fly placed on the filter paper for dissolving the fluorescent
dye and detecting under a UV lamp. On the other hand, the head crashing detection
method is a method by which the head of the fruit fly is crashed first on the paper
before the solvent was dispersed to its body. M (marked) or sterile was named to
the flies with dye and U (unmarked) or wild was named to the flies without dye.
(Manoto et al., 1999)

Sterile insect technique is widely known already around the world due to its
effectiveness. According to the Biofly.com (2012), SIT is proven effective in
controlling agricultural pests in different countries. It is very useful especially when
applied to wide range areas of damaged crops or affected animals. Krafsur (1998)
also explains that the effect of application would not show immediate extermination
of the fruit flies for difference in age structure, dispersal of population densities,
phenology and other factors significantly affect the result in short period of time,
thus must observe effects in longer time. Manoto et. al. (2006) also clarifies that for
SIT to be effective, there may be a need to constantly release millions of sterile fruit
flies weekly in a 60000 hectare island. Application of SIT is very sensitive to the
condition of the area especially to the weather. If the SIT is applied during rainy
season, then the technique would fail for it would cause the death of the sterile fruit
flies released. SIT is also sensitive on how people will carry the sterile insect
technique. If the growers of the SIT are not cooperating, then it will fail. It is also
environmental friendly. Since only the pests will be radiated, then the crops will be
safe for consumption, whether import of for export.

SIT is widely used for its many uses. It diminishes the use of pesticide and
results to production of healthier crops. SIT also focuses on protecting the food
supply by its safe control method. It is additionally useful not only to target pest
being controlled but also to the unexpected newly occurred pest populations to
eradicate them as early as possible before they reproduce and infest wide range
area according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (2013).

Unfortunately, SIT is not accessible to farmers and private farm owners. With
all the complicatedness and complex process before, during and after the operation
of the SIT, it is hard for the SIT to introduce especially to remote areas. Once
introduced, it is hard to maintain the operation. Moreover, sterile insect technique
can only be adopted with the coordination of different agencies such as PNRI-DOST.
The technique cannot be independently adopted by farmers without the help of any
agency for the abilities of the farmers cannot meet the high demands of SIT in
terms of mass-rearing, transportation, release, and monitoring the population of
fruit flies. For instance, the high technologies used are only found in the specific
laboratory of different agencies. Also, farmers alone cannot provide the high
requirement of money of the technique especially during release and transport of
fruit flies when it is difficult to maintain environmental conditions for the sterile fruit
flies to survive.

Sterile insect technique applied by the government and agencies in Guimaras

Island from year 1997 to 2007 where high emergence of fruit flies was manifested,
is effective in eradicating the oriental fruit flies infesting in the area. According to
Cabalfin, PCAARRD researcher, the sterile insect technique which is adopted in
Japan and California has been tested and applied in Guimaras Island and resulted to
good outcomes and effects (Abello, 2010).

Mango fruit production in Guimaras has increased with the application of the
technique. From the data of Golez (n.d.), it was shown that during the year 2000,
the mango production is 848 238 metric ton per year. During 2001, the mango
production increased to 881 710 metric ton per year. It also increased to 956 033
metric ton per year by 2002. By 2003, the mango production significantly increased
to 1 006 191 metric ton per year. However, the mango production decreased to 967
473 metric ton per year during 2004 but eventually increased to 984 342 metric ton
per year during 2005. Mango production in Guimaras Island has significantly
increased in the year 2000-2005 reducing the impact of insect pests due to
reduction also of the oriental fruit flies. There might be a decrease of mango
production from 2003 to 2004 but the decrease was maybe caused by other
problems such environmental problems occurred in the area like typhoon.

Because of the adoption of SIT in the area, population of oriental fruit flies in
Guimaras Island has also been reduced. A study conducted by Manoto et al. (2006)
reveals that SIT is an effective tool for eradicating fruit flies in Naoway Island in
Guimaras. The ratio of the released sterile fruit flies to the released wild flies is 22:1.
The results of their experiment revealed that of the 1 009 150 released sterile fruit
flies and 7 unmarked or wild fruit flies, mating between the two species has not
resulted in any fertile egg and has not resulted in reproduction of the fruit flies.
Furthermore, after the application of the sterile insect technique in Naoway Island,
only 6 pupae of fruit flies were observed from the mango fruits in which three of the
pupae were fruit fly adults. In addition, pupae are not observed in the succeeding
observation to fruit crops in 22:1 ratio. Subsequent collections of both wild and
cultivated fruits did not yield in any pupa of the oriental fruit fly. Since estimation of
the number of wild pest population is a prerequisite for the successful control of
insect pests with the sterile insect technique, sterile insect technique is indeed
effective to control and eradicate fruit flies since the data from researchers of DOST-
PNRI show that the population of the fruit flies has decreased rapidly after the
application of SIT and the quality of the infested fruit crops in the target area has
improved due to decreased number of pupae or absence of pupae observed in the
mango fruits.

Supporting the claim about effective reduction of fruit flies by sterile insect
technique, Golez (n.d.) has also expounded that an average of 99% decline of the
fruit fly population with the proceeding eradication of the insect pest by the
technique has been achieved and has resulted in improved quality of mango fruits
and reduced infestation in the field in Guimaras Island. The reduction level is too
high and it really supports how effective the application of SIT to the fruit flies,
mango fruits, farmers and consumers.

Data from Philippine Institute for Development Studies (2000) also support
the successful reduction of sterile fruit flies. The percent reduction of fruit fly
population in the year 1997 during March was 20.55% followed by 48.61% during
April, then 72.30% during May, 93.36% on the month of June, 89.62% during July,
91.65% during August, 94.76% on September, 98.25% during October, during
November, 92.68% and lastly, 93.22% during December. Even from the pilot
application of the technique, there have been already positive results of the
application of the SIT and this could be the reason of succeeding adoption of the
technique through the years. High reduction rates of fruit fly population were
continuously obtained that proves the effectiveness of the technique.

Like in fruit fly population, quality and the ability of oriental fruit flies have
also been reduced because of the sterile insect technique. Data from Resilva et al.,
(2007) of BPI-NMRDC of San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras Philippines shows the
standard specifications for the essential weekly and monthly quality control tests of
mass-reared B. philippinensis. These values were based on the minimum mean data
obtained in a 2007 years production in the rearing facility. The minimum weight set
for pupae was 11.13 milligrams with a diameter of 1.75 millimeter. Minimum
emergence rate and fliers with a 10-centimeter flight tube in pre-, post-irradiation,
and post-shipment were 90.3, 85.2, and 80.4% for emergence, respectively, and
77.3, 73.2, and 70.1% for fliers, respectively. Minimum values of 50.2, 45.3, and
40.2% survival after 28 to 32 hours was acceptable when newly emerged flies were
subjected to stress tests in pre- and post-irradiation and post shipment, respectively.
Mating propensity indicates an acceptable mean mating index of 50.2% (pre-
irradiation), 45.1% (post-irradiation), and 40.3% (post-shipment) for 10 day-old flies.
Facts from Resilva et al. (2007) only mean that the specifications of fruit flies such
as their minimum pupal weight and pupal diameter, minimum percent emergence
or occurrence and their flight ability has reduced because of mating with sterile fruit
flies. Furthermore, the mating capacity of the oriental fruit flies also decreased and
therefore diminishing also the production of fertile eggs of fruit flies.
 However, with the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique, application of
the technique is very costly. A great amount of money is required for the technique
to be well applied and for the operation to be successful. Records from Philippine
Institute for Development Studies (2000) indicate that the project Integrated fruit fly
management based on sterile insect technique in Guimaras in 2000 by BPI-NMRDC
which was funded by International Atomic Energy Agency contributed 8.7% of the
total budget allotted to fruits program and allocated P 1 952 000 for the operation.

Even though the application of the sterile insect technique is expensive, it is

still cost effective because the cost justified the positive results, good outcomes and
effects of the operation. The utilization of the technique is worth it especially when
favorable results are achieved. It is the same as investing a great amount of money
to get a greater amount of profit or greater return. It is the same as putting a great
effort to produce a good quality product. Isama ko pa bay an? hahaha

In the application of sterile insect technique, the good outcomes are not just
the reduction of fruit fly population, improved quantity and quality of fruits
produced but also the successful penetration of Guimaras mango fruits to
international market. Acccording to Morante and Bignayan as cited by Labiste
(2002), the maintenance of quarantine in the operation of SIT is costly and requires
a lot of time and effort yet is worth it for the successful export of Guimaras
mangoes to US fruit market. This is the major factor that proves the effectiveness of
the use of sterile insect technique. In fact, among the places in the Philippines,
Guimaras is the only place whose mangoes can enter the United States mango
market, hence, included in the international commerce map (Fernandez, 2002,
2006). Reasons behind this include the successful solution to the problem of
infestation of fruit flies in Guimaras by the government scientists and national
researchers who has given effort, shared their skills and equipment to control fruit
flies that hinder Philippine mango to enter the very wide mango market.

Angelito Carpio, a PCAARRD program specialist also supports the operation of

sterile insect technique as a success as what Fernandez (2006), Labiste (200) has
cited that the pilot operation of sterile insect technique in Guimaras Island has been
validated as a achievement due to the reduced population of fruit fly. Because of
this, Guimaras mangoes has successfully entered the United States mango market
and met the standards in mango quality of United States after many years of trying
to pass through the said regulation. Moreover, because of this, Philippine
government has set high hopes in increased profit from the export. Successful
penetration of Guimaras mangoes to US market implies improved quality of these
mangoes because the mangoes could not enter US market if they are not improved
and if the quality is not good.

The application of sterile insect technique in Guimaras Island has additionally

made Guimaras to be a pest-free area. However, according to Fernandez (2006)
continuous application of the SIT should be practiced to maintain its fruit fly free
status.

Despite the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique, there are still many
factors in the application of the technique that affects and limits its effectiveness.
These factors do not necessarily mean that the application of SIT is already non-
effective but it only means that these factors can affect the successful operation of
the technique and consequently affects the effectiveness of the technique. If from
the start, the application of the technique would fail due to insufficiency of some
resources, then the entire operation would also fail and the technique will not be
effective at all. Thus, there is a need to improve monitoring and resources
management for the measure to be successfully operated.

According to Rhode (1969), one of the essential factors needed to be

considered in operating sterile insect technique is logistics. Different factors can
affect the development of the experiment specifically when fruit flies are
transported and being spread to the target area. If SIT is being applied to an area
that can easily be reached, then utilization of a well-air-conditioned truck can
sustain the fruit flies. Air conditioned truck prolong the life of the sterile fruit flies so
that they would remain alive when they are transported and released in the target
area. She also added that it is more efficient to use helicopter to lessen failure of
the application of SIT due to weather conditions. Moreover, planes may also be used
in releasing sterile insect from fruit flies in order to reach far areas. Chambers (1978
p. 100) also explains that the unsuccessful release of the sterile fruit flies in the
target area causes the death of some fruit flies and thermal damage of pupae
during transfer. If failures in transportation and in release of sterile fruit flies already
exist due to death of the flies, then the overall operation of the technique would
also fail. Application of the technique would be senseless. The measure can be
successfully operated only with the use of the required transportation facilities that
makes the operation function efficiently. Transportation management can be
improved if the government gives additional fund so that agencies can use the high
costing transportation facilities.

Problems in logistics can also be addressed by placing the laboratory as close

to the area of application as possible in order also to reduce land transportation
problems, since proximity of the workforce to the worksite is also significant (Rhode,
1969). It also reduced the problem in communication between the researchers and
the personnel monitoring the operation. He (Rhode, 1969) also added that the
operation must be situated near the personnel for the personnel to monitor the
operation and report the current state of this. Moreover, improvement in
communication between air and ground upon the release of sterile fruit flies in the
target area is also needed in order to release healthy sterile fruit flies flawlessly.

Insufficient resources management is another factor that affects the

successful operation of SIT is the. According to Manoto, et al. (1999), there was a
decrease in the population of sterile fruit flies released because of the limitation on
resources needed in the mass rearing facility. Resources in mass rearing facility
must be sufficient otherwise decrease in produced sterile fruit flies would result to
low competition between released sterile fruit flies and wild fruit flies and would
result in decreased production of infertile egg and consequently maximum
reduction of fruit fly population would not be accomplished.

Another resources management that needs improvement is the financial

resource. The budget for the operation of SIT is of great significance because it is
needed in every transaction taking place in the operation. Without enough money,
the operation of the technique would not work properly. Bignayan stated as cited by
Labiste (2002) that the operation of sterile insect technique need P2.4 million to be
implemented yet only P500 000 was allocated by the Department of Agriculture in
2001. The budget is only limited and this resulted in the reduction of sterile fruit
flies produced for the release. As a consequence, the aerial release of the sterile
fruit flies in the affected areas in Guimaras has not been accomplished. Labiste
(2002) added that the lack of funds hinders the frequent implementation of
quarantine measures. Implementation of quarantine measures should be done
periodically in order to attain continuous reduction but since funds are not enough,
continuous reduction is also not achieved.

Problems on lack of resources used in the operation that are available in the
country also exist. The problem of application of sterile insect technique in a
developing country like Philippines according to Rhode (1969) is that many
resources that will be used in the operation will be from export due to insufficiency .
He (Rhode 1969) added that laboratory tools to be used that are not available in the
country are needed to be obtained outside the country. This problem is directly
associated with lack of money. With lack of money, resources that are needed will
not be bought outside the country. Thus, additional funding to the operation must
be addressed so that lack of resources will also be addressed.

Like problems on material resources, problems on manpower resources also

limit the application of sterile insect technique. This includes the different actions of
bureaus and government institutions that result to difficulty in successfully
accomplishing the actions due to lack of planning, lack of cooperation of staff, the
ability of LGU personnel that is bounded, absence of dedicated workers, not enough
encouragement given to them and ineffective system which monitors and evaluates
the experiment conducted (Asian Fruit Fly IPM Project, 2011). If these problems on
manpower resources continue, then the operation would not be successful. Skills
and attitude of the workers of the operation must improve because the success of
the operation depends on them since cooperation between workers in the operation
is the most important. Without them and their collaboration with each other, the
operation would not exist.

The application of sterile insect technique is effective in eradicating fruit flies in

Guimaras island. However, for the technique to be successfully applied and for the
positive results to be maximally attained, monitoring and resources management
should be improved. There should be thorough and timely implementation of all
measures. Duties must be fully understood, carried out competently and efficiently
and final outcome must be felt responsible for by the personnel involved in the
operation. In this way, sterile insect technique would be effective and efficient and
will leave a great impact not just to the target area where the problem is solved but
to a greater context which is the entire Philippines. Lets make our country become
more globally competitive through the exportation of improved quality mangoes in
the international market where our products are complimented and appreciated.

Ang pangit ng conclusion ko. Huhuhuhu. Paano koi improve? T_______T