Stop coco pest outbreak : Aklan SP asks DA, PCA to implement EO 169

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed a resolution on Wednesday urging the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Department of Agriculture regional field unit VI to implement strictly the Executive Order No. 169 signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

The resolution authored by SP member Emmanuel Soviet Russia Aguirre Dela Cruz calls for the government agencies to take implementing measures to arrest the widespread insect infestation of the coconut plantations in the country. 

Still reeling from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, the province of Aklan is a priority-recipient of coconut seedlings to rehabilitate the damaged coconut industry. Aklan has 46,000 hectares of coconut plantations with an annual copra production of 36,163 metric tons from 4,627,386 coconut trees.

Dela Cruz said coconut plantations in Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and Quezon have been infested by airborne insect Aspiodotus rigidus. The coconut infestation was first reported in 2010 with more than 15,000 coconut trees already infested.  The coconut leaves turned dried, yellowish and the water inside the nuts also tasted sour.

By June 2011, the insects infested 11,000 more trees.  The number of coconut trees infected jumped to 970,000 coconut trees in Calabarzon region alone this year. 

“Aklan coconut industry is also vulnerable. Alarmingly, we have to take precautionary steps to control the invasive insects that threaten non-bearing and bearing coconut trees,” he said. 

In a study by researchers from University of the Philippines –Los Banos, the insects Aspiodotus rigidus originated from Mindanao. The insects first reported in Sangi Island in Indonesia matched those found in Batangas.

According to the EO 169, President Aquino designated the PCA as lead agency in the implementation of emergency control measures with the help of local government units. The government agency is also mandated to identify the infested areas and coordinate efforts to treat infected coconut trees.

PCA is also authorized to formulate cost-effective and quarantine measures to prevent the transport of infected coconut plants.