PCA, other agencies initiate measures

against cocolisap infestation in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, (ZNS) -The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in collaboration with other concerned government agencies are initiating measures to control and contain the infestation of the coconut scale insects (CSI) also known as cocolisap.

PCA Administrator Romulo Arancon, Jr. said this as Zamboanga City and entire Mindanao is at risk to cocolisap infestation since such kind of pest is “actually invasive” and “reproduces very fast.”

Arancon said among the measures they have adopted to prevent the spread of cocolisap is the imposition of strict quarantine since the infestation at present is confined in Basilan province, mostly in Isabela City.

Arancon said the quarantine is jointly imposed by PCA police, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the local government units.

The other agencies also involve in the prevention of the spread of cocolisap are the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the University of the Philippines-Lost Baños (UPLB).

Arancon disclosed there are 141,000 coconut trees infested by cocolisap in Isabela City, the capital of Basilan, and 2,400 coconut trees in four other towns of Basilan.

“We do not want it to spread to Zamboanga City and its neighboring provinces,” said Arancon, who along with other PCA and DA officials visited Friday Basilan province.

He said other measure is to control by way of treating the infected coconut trees.

He said the coconut trees will be pruned, particularly the infested leaves, and to injected with systemic insecticide.

He disclosed that the PCA has already released P3 million to control the cocolisap infestation in Basilan and an additional P14 million will be release next week.

He said the P14 million funds to be release will include allocation to provide financial assistance to farmers whose coconut farms were infested by cocolisap.

He said that cocolisap has also infested coconut farms the CALABARZON region which comprises of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon aside from Basilan province.(PNA) (080514)