Coconut scale insect infestation now at ‘manageable level’

MANILA, Philippines - The coconut scale insect infestation that affected mainly the Calabarzon region is now at a ”manageable level,” according to food security chief Francis Pangilinan.

To date, only nine municipalities in four provinces remain as infestation hotspot areas from a high of 50 municipalities in five provinces in June 2014.

These municipalities are: Balayan and Calaga in Batangas province; Bay and San Pablo in Laguna; Candelaria, Mauban, Sampaloc and Polilio in Quezon and  Isabela in Basilan.

“We are no longer at an outbreak level. The infestation is now manageable,” Pangilinan said in a recent briefing in Quezon City.

He said the infestation in the remaining hotspot areas is expected to be eradicated by April.

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) launched in June last year a six-month emergency program to contain  the coconut scale insect infestation.

The Coconut Scale Insect Emergency Action (CSIEP) entails various measures for stopping the spread of infestation such as pruning, spraying of organic pesticide, as well as releasing of scale insect predators.

After the pest control, fertilizer would be applied to affected coconut trees to prepare them for reproduction.

Affected areas would also be placed under quarantine and surveillance.

Livelihood assistance in the form of intercropping of high value crops would also be facilitated in affected areas to enable farmers to recover from losses.

A budget of P750 million has been allotted for the program. An allocation of P460 million had been made for the first phase of the program which  ran from June to August, while P204 million and P88 million has been allocated for the second and third phase of the program.

PCA administrator Romulo Arancon said it would take about two years for affected trees to resume reproduction.

As of August 2014, about 2.7 million trees out of the total domestic coconut tree population of 325 million have been affected by the infestation.

The scale insects attacking coconut plants feed on sap drawn from the plant’s vascular system, causing leaves to turn yellow and eventually dry up. Nuts also fell prematurely, causing yield reduction.

Undersecretary  Fredelita Guiza, of the Office Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, said the treatment operations in Calabarzon have benefitted 8, 745 coconut farmers and provided income of P52.8 million.

She said Typhoon Glenda in July also contributed to the reduction of the pest population.

Guiza said the program has so far contained the spread of infestation to the Bicol region and mainland Mindanao.

Until December this year, the PCA would continue implementing the measures stipulated under CSIEP to prevent the spread of infestation in non-outbreak areas and provide replacement income for farmers. – With Delon Porcalla