Cops join fight vs. coconut bug

Aside from going after crooks, police now have to go after bugs.

The Philippine National Police is now involved in operations for the containment of the coconut leaf beetle that is threatening to wipe out the country’s P40 billion coconut industry.

Philippine Coconut Authority regional manager Deodiro Ravelo said the involvement of the police is part of the Special Quarantine Order 1 by the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture.

The said order bans the importation of coconut and palm seeds, leaves and seed nuts from 24 countries as well as strictly placing under quarantine 26 provinces invested with the coconut beetle Brontispa longgissima gestro.

Ravelo said in yesterdays meeting with the League of Provinces and League of Municipalities DA officials asked the cooperation of local chief executives on the matter.

He said, the local chief executives can order their local police to assist agriculture and quarantine personnel in checking movement of coconut palms, leaves and seed nuts which may be carriers of the brontispa.

Even planting materials such as scythes and bolos are also to be inspected.

The quarantine order was issued pursuant to the Executive Order of President Gloria Arroyo telling the DA and BPI, with the local chief executives and the police to draw up emergency measures to contain the invasive coconut pest.

Barely three weeks ago, some 500 coconut trees in Baclayon town, Bohol were confirmed to have been infested with brontispa.

Vietnam earlier made the commitment to help the Philippines stop the coconut leaf beetle from causing more tree deaths at last month’s bilateral meeting between Arroyo and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung.  –Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP