FEB.

16, 2012 DATE

NR # 2681B
REF. NO.

Lawmaker warns coconut infestation may spread to other Southern Tagalog provinces
A lawmaker today warned that coconut infestation in many parts of Batangas may spread to the nearby provinces of Southern Luzon if the concerned government agencies will not adopt appropriate measures to address the problem. In a privilege speech, AGHAM Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones said that some 43,389 coconut trees in seven municipalities and 41 barangays in Batangas have already been affected by the scale insects called aspidiotus destructor. Palmones urged Congress to pass a measure augmenting the budget of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to address the infestation of coconut trees in the affected areas. Combating the raging coconut infestation needs support and immediate action. The fear of a widespread infestation, if not contained and stopped is real. Provinces in nearby Batangas Province, like Laguna and Quezon are likely to catch the infestation, Palmones said. We need to strengthen our act now if we want to stop the scale insects from gaining more ground so that we can continue to harness, and gain more economic benefits from our coconut trees, Palmones stressed. Palmones said the ability of the Philippines to supply coconut water and other products and by-products to the US or to any other country could be jeopardized if the government will fail to address the problem. Palmones cited a 2011 PCA report stating a 315 percent increase in coconut water exported to the Americas, Europe, Asia and Pacific, Latin and Central America and Middle East. It is expected that international demand for coco water will continue to rise as more and more people are becoming health conscious, Palmones said. The coconut industry is considered a major dollar earner that provides livelihood to one-third of the countrys population. About 26 percent of total agricultural land is planted with coconut in 68 out of 79 provinces and 1,195 municipalities in the country, Palmones said. Palmones said the PCA has already released P1.1 million to the PCA Region 4A to combat the infestation and have prepared their action plan, but needs sufficient funds to

FEB. 16, 2012 DATE

NR # 2681B
REF. NO.

carry out the plan. Palmones said the life cycle of aspidiotus destructor is 32-24 days, with each female depositing 20-50 eggs over a few days and can crawl up to one meter but can be distributed across greater distances by wind, flying insects, birds and be transported through infested material by man. The coconut tree is the favorite host of the sucking insects, which inhabit the underside of the coconut leaves that later turn brown and fall off. It can also infest other fruit trees such as avocado, mango, guava, banana and papaya, not only in Batangas but also in nearby provinces, Palmones said. Palmones said the PCA Region 4A pest management action plan covering 10 municipalities and 60 barangays of Batangas include information dissemination, disease surveillance, pest mapping, pest prevention, establishment of buffer zone, mechanical control, pruning and burning leaves, cutting and disposal of dead trees, spraying with pesticides, introduction of bio-control, fertilization and documentation. Likewise, Palmones said the National Research Council of the Philippines has offered its services in doing research for the prevention of the scale insects infestation, particularly in bio-control and promised to give us solution in two weeks. (30) jsc