TACLOBAN CITY,
Leyte – A Regional Consultation on Brontispa Longissima or
Coconut Leaf Beetle was held at the Ritz Tower de Leyte Tuesday (June
13) in order to thresh out some plans to contain the infestation in
Allen and not to allow it to spread in the other areas of the Region
nor in Mindanao nor in Sorsogon.
Presidential Assistant
for Coconut Honorable Edmund C. Sana who was the guest during the
Consultation, used to be the Undersecretary for Regional Operations of
the Department of Agriculture before his appointment to his current
position.
To date, there are
already six barangays in the
municipality of
Allen
that has been infested with Brontispa. It started in Barangay Looc
according to Brgy. Chairman Glen Resuello. He said that ten coconut
farmers with 400 coconut trees have already been affected in his
barangay.
Barangay Chairman
William Colcero of Barangay Lagundi informed PIA that 231 coconut
trees of 6 coconut farmers have already been affected while
Kikaguitman Barangay Chairman Leonardito Tagalog said 15 trees of 1
coconut farmer in his barangay have already been found to be infested
with the Brontispa. The other barangays affected are Sabang I and
Sabang II, and Kinahanan.
The barangay chairmen
revealed that at first they were told to spray soap and water but they
found out it was ineffective and so the Philippine Coconut Authority
gave them chemicals which they injected on the trunk of the coconut
trees. Before they inject, however, they first harvest the mature
fruits.
Director Nierva said
that the affectivity of the chemicals sprayed is from 3-4 months and
the fruits are not supposed to be eaten until after the 6-months
period is over. This is the reason why the introduction of predators
called the airwigs is being recommended by the PCA. But these
predators have to be mass produced, Director Nierva added.
It was learned from
the Municipal Coconut Officer of Allen, Mr. Abelardo Gamba, that as
early as October last year, it was found out that some coconut trees
in Barangay Looc in Allen Northern Samar was infested by brontispa or
coconut leaf beetle. A coconut tree infested with Brontispa has young
leaves which appear burned or scorched resulting from the feeding
damage of the coconut leaf beetle.
Brontispa, according
to PCA Regional Manager Ed Nierva, is an invasive pest introduced to
the country, presumably in early 2004 via importation of ornamental
palms. It caused great damage to seedlings and mature coconut trees
and ornamental palms thereby killing the young spears and the whole
tree.
The Quarantine Bureau
is very important in the prevention of the infestation from spreading,
PA Sana said and so the Philippine National Police, the local
governments of Allen and the Province of Northern Samar, the DILG and
the Philippine Information Agency are enjoined to help in the task
force.
The action plan of the
task force was presented and discussed with the conclusion that all
effort must be exerted to contain the infestation in Allen and not to
allow it to be spread to the other provinces in Region 8, to
Luzon and to
Mindanao.
