The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said Wednesday the coconut scale insect (CSI), also known as “cocolisap,” is not a threat to the coconut industry.
The PCA made the assurance despite the 516,962 coconut trees affected by CSI in Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as of May 30.
In a press conference, PCA Administrator Dexter Buted said the affected area only accounts for 0.15 percent of the country’s 345 million coconut trees.
“Ito ay napakaliit na bahagi lamang ng kabuuan natin. Kaya maituturing natin na hindi ito isang banta sa pambansang antas (This is just a very small portion of the overall number. That’s why we can consider that this is not a threat on a national level),” he said.
The PCA said it has treated 355,859 of the 516,962 infested coconut trees, estimating the damage from the infestation at PHP200 million.
In 2014, the cocolisap infested more than 2.4 million coconut trees in 916 barangays in Calabarzon and Basilan.
PCA Deputy Administrator Roel Rosales, however, assured that they would not be complacent on the CSI spread to protect the country’s coconut production.
“With negligence and less intervention, there is still a possibility of disruptive effects within the environment. So, we’re very concerned. That’s why we are implementing mitigation measures,” he said.
On average, the Philippines produces about 15 million metric tons of coconut each year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Intervention in place
Besides treatment protocol, which includes pruning, release of biological control agents, and fertilization, the PCA also cited intensified actions to eradicate the cocolisap and prevent its spread to other parts of the country.
Buted said the PCA has set up checkpoints across the country, started coordination with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) for technical aid, established bio-control laboratories, and streamlined the release of funds for operational requirements.
PCA Deputy Administrator Lucius Jun-Jun Malsi said they have allocated PHP94 million to urgently address the threat in the local coconut industry.
“PHP60 million will focus on the eradication and mitigation of CSI and PHP34 million for the eradication and mitigation of some other pest diseases,” he said.
Besides CSI, the PCA is also monitoring and mitigating the impact of coconut spike moth infestation, which has affected 20,163 coconut palms in Calabarzon.
The Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, assured indemnification to affected farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.
More than 3,000 farmers are estimated to be affected in the 3,600 hectares of infested areas.(PNA)
