Bohol builds P5-M coco-based ind’l hub

MANILA, Philippines - The provincial government of Bohol has started the construction of a P5 million coconut-based industrial hub in the municipality of Balilihan to maximize the production chain of the province’s coconut industry, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) announced over the weekend.

A memorandum of agreement for the project was signed last year between PCA Administrator Euclides Forbes and Bohol governor Edgar Chatto.

PCA said the facility, which would be completed in 14 months, contains both processing and training facilities.

Under the agreement, the PCA also would provide technical assistance and market information to coconut farmers in the municipality.

Bohol has around 10 million coconut trees producing an annual harvest of more than 343 million nuts. For lack of capital and value-adding facilities, however, farmers could not undertake marketing and value-adding activities.

“The PCA will assist the province of Bohol in the rehabilitation and replanting of coconuts, as well as in the diversification and sustainable product development from coconuts,” said PCA Administrator Forbes.

In a related development, the PCA regional office in Bicol region is seeking to prevent the spread of coconut scale insect infestation (CSI) to the region by establishing a buffer zone from the eastern coastal tip of Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte to the western coastal point in Tagkawayan, Quezon.

The buffer zone would be subjected to quarantine and biological pest control measures.

The PCA said its Region V office has briefed farmers and local government leaders of the possible spread of the infestation and sought their support in the prevention.

Forbes said the PCA Central office would evaluate the containment proposal of its Region V.

“Notwithstanding the objective of preventing the potential occurrence of CSI in Bicol and other parts of the archipelago, the ultimate goals of all these measures are to regulate the population of the pest to a manageable level in order to save the uninfested areas and allow the infested palms to recover, and to avoid severe infestation in the future,” said Forbes.

The scale insects attacking coconut plants in the provinces feed on sap drawn from the plant’s vascular system.

This results to the yellowing of leaves progressing to drying and wilting in young and old palms. Premature nut fall also contributes to yield reduction.