CSI Infestation Not Threat to Philippine Coconut Industry

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said Wednesday, June 11, the coconut scale insect (CSI), also known as “cocolisap,” is not a threat to the coconut industry. The PCA made the assurance despite the 516,962 coconut trees affected by CSI in Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as of May 30.
In a press conference, PCA Administrator and CEO Dexter Buted said the affected area only accounts for 0.15 percent of the country’s 345 million coconut trees, a very small portion of the overall number.  The PCA said it has treated 355,859 of the 516,962 infested coconut trees, estimating the damage from the infestation at PHP200 million.
Besides treatment protocol, which includes pruning, release of biological control agents, and fertilization, the PCA also cited intensified actions to eradicate the cocolisap and prevent its spread to other parts of the country. Buted said the PCA has set up checkpoints across the country, started coordination with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) for technical aid, established bio-control laboratories, and streamlined the release of funds for operational requirements.
The Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, assured indemnification to affected farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. More than 3,000 farmers are estimated to be affected in the 3,600 hectares of infested areas.