MANILA, Philippines — Coconut scale insect, or cocolisap, has reached Romblon, the Philippine Coconut Authority office in the province confirmed Monday.
Romblon News Network, citing agriculturist Protacio Rubia of PCA-Romblon, reports that cocolisap has affected 1,000 to 1,500 trees in Barangay Pangulo in Calatrava and Barangay Carmen in San Agustin.
The coconut scale insect eats a coconut tree's leaves fruits and flowers, leaving only the trunk. The tree can no longer be saved at that point.
Rubia said there may be other trees that have also been infested.
Around 85 percent of farmers in Romblon depend on coconut farming, the PCA said, adding coconuts are the province's primary product. Coconut farmers like Arnold Marin are worried that the infestation could affect their income from copra, Romblon News Network reported.
The PCA has already ordered leaf pruning to prevent the cocolisap from spreading.
Romblon News Network is a regional partner of Philstar.com.