Zamboanga City works to stop 'cocolisap' infestation

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The Zamboanga City Agriculture Office is working round the clock to arrest the spread of coconut scale insects (CSI) locally known as ‘cocolisap’ that are affecting at least 12 villages in the city.

City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacad said his office is working with the Philippine Coconut Authority to control and wipe out the cocolisap before they can spread further.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Piñol earlier warned that the infestation of the cocolisap in this city could devastate the coconut industry in Mindanao unless addressed immediately.

Palacad said the DA and PCA have activated their City Crop Protection Quick Response Team, which has been monitoring the spread of the insects.

He said that at least 650 coconut trees from the 12 barangays in this city have already been damaged by the scale insects.

Although the infestation has not yet reached an alarming level, various pest management control measures are already being done to prevent cocolisap from spreading further.

He said rapid treatment of the infected coconut trees is also being conducted.

Authorities suspect the ‘cocolisap’ came from Basilan, where close to three million of seven million coconut trees in the province have been infested.