DA allots P41.2M for control of coco scale insects

BATANGAS, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has set aside P41.2 million for the eradication of scale insects  that destroyed a large coco plantation in CALABARZON areas.

Dubbed “SAGIP” (Sama-samang Aksyon ng Gobyerno, Industriya at Pamayanan) Program, the program aims to control the outbreak of scale insects that has left the region’s coconut planters in distress.

SAGIP was approved on May 20, 2013 by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

According to PCA Administrator Euclides Forbes, the program will involve cutting of senile and infested trees which are beyond recovery, massive spraying of cochin plus pesticide and leaf pruning of young and moderately affected trees.

“Pruned leaves and sprayed trees will also be fertilized and biocontrol agents will be mass produced and released to fight predators in low and moderately affected areas,” Forbes said in a statement.

The spraying will be a joint operation by PCA, LGU and the barangays in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and Quezon. Each barangay infested shall be provided by PCA with inputs and sprayer for operations, Forbes said.

PCA will provide funds for hiring more than a thousand workers for spraying, pruning, replanting, fertilization and rearing of bio-control, Forbes added.

PCA records in Calabarzon stated that around 50-70 percent of coconut farms in the province of Batangas, 20 percent in Laguna and 10 percent in Cavite were infested by scale insects early this year. Total recuperation will take two-three years.