Gov’t urged to solve coconut infestation

MANILA, Philippines - The chairman of the House appropriations committee is asking concerned government agencies to immediately find a solution to the alarming coconut scale insect (CSI) infestation in order to prevent the collapse of the coconut industry in Southern Luzon and in Visayas and Mindanao.

In Resolution 1085, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab urged the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Science and Technology (DOST) to prevent the spread of the scale insects.

He said the spread of the deadly scale insects “threatens the livelihood of 325,516 coconut farmers and their families, and the economy of coconut-producing communities.”

“The PCA, DA and DOST should immediately provide solutions to combat the infestation. Scientists believe the increase of these new species of scale insects and their rapid spread in coconut plantations, could reach the whole of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” said Ungab, a graduate of agricultural economics from UP-Los Baños in Laguna.

Ungab said satellite images shown to him indicate massive and invasive insect infestation of coconut plants in several parts of Southern Luzon.

“Immediate solutions must be implemented to prevent the total collapse of the coconut industry in Quezon and nearby provinces, Bicol region and some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao,” he said.

The lawmaker said scale insects are small parasites found in coconut leaves, fruits and petioles.

“The insects excrete thick sooty molds that grow on the coconut honeydew covering the underside of the coconut leaves, suffocating and preventing them from producing food for the tree and siphons off the sap causing the yellowing, wilting and premature nut fall, and even killing the coconut trees,” he said.

He urged the House to pass his resolution so the concerned agencies could attend to the problem.

In another resolution, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte called for preserving billions in coconut levy funds and assets, including the sequestered United Coconut Planters Bank.

Belmonte said he learned of certain financial irregularities in the bank that he wants the House good government committee to look into.

He said one of these irregularities is the payment of huge amounts to a law firm in which one bank director is a partner.

“There is a conflict of interest and ethical issue in this arrangement,” he said.