'Cocolisap' infests half a million trees, causes P200 million in losses

Photo from Philippine Coconut Authority

MANILA — The Philippine Coconut Authority said on Wednesday that coconut scale insect, widely-known as cocolisap, has infested more than 516,000 coconut trees across nine regions in the Philippines.

The cocolisap or coconut scale insect (CSI) is a small, white or brown insect that clings to the underside of coconut leaves and sucks out nutrients, causing severe damage to trees. The damage from the infestation is estimated at P200 million so far.

The PCA however assured the public that the situation remains manageable as the number of infested trees is miniscule as the country has more than 345 million coconut trees.

"Nais namin tiyakin sa publiko at magniniyog na hindi laganap at hindi nakakaalarma ang issue ng CSI," PCA administrator Dexter Buted told the media.

(We would like to ensure the public and the coconut farmers that this is not widespread and this is not alarming.)

"Hindi ito isang banta sa pambansang antas, bagkus yung tinatawag natin na sporadic, o panaka-naka, we call it manageable naman," he added.

(This is not a threat in the national level, because this is sporadic, and this is manageable.)

But the PCA said it is not complacent and it is looking at the issue seriously.

"We are concerned. We are very concerned. Though it fails in comparison to the 2014 infestation. We are concerned because these are affecting a lot of areas. And with negligence and less intervention, there is still a possibility of disruptive effect within the environment," said PCA Deputy Administrator for Operations Roel Rosales.

"So we are controlling the movements of the coconut from one area to another. We are intervening in terms of paying the locals, the farmers themselves, in undertaking the mitigation measure," he added.

A total of 528 palms were pruned to control the spread of CSI. The PCA also released the predator insect Chilocorus sp. as way to stop its spread.

Buted said the cocolisap is a recurring problem in the coconut industry, with more extreme cases recorded in 2014.

"Ito ay recurrence, pabalik-balik po ito. Yan ay mapaminsala at kita mo dati sa Batangas, sa Star Toll na nagmamakaawa ang mga puno ng niyog," Buted said.

(This is a recurring problem. This is really damaging even before, in Batangas, you could see in Star Toll that coconut trees were heavily affected.)

Rosales said the insect was detected in Basilan and Zamboanga, and might have spread in other provinces. Around 3,600 coconut farmers are estimated to be affected by the CSI, and PCA says there is indemnification for them.

"May slight decrease na naman sa infestation, and we hope to accomplish treatment within the year," Rosales said.

(There is a slight decrease in the infestation, and we hope to accomplish treatment within the year.)

COCONUT SPIKE MOTH

Aside from the CSI, the coconut industry is also dealing with the coconut spike moth.

Around 20,000 coconut trees in two districts in the province of Quezon have been infested.

"So, ang spike moth po ay naituturing talagang mapinsala dahil sa kanyang pagiging agresibo at kakayanang lumipad at palipat-lipat sa mga karatig na puno," Buted said.

(Spike moth is really damaging because it is aggresive and it has the ability to fly and go around several trees.)

"If you could just imagine, nasira niya yung isang puno, pagkatapos makain niya yung palaspas, yun ang kanya talagang sinisira," he added.

(If you could just imagine, once it damages one the leaves of one tree, the damage will be large.)

Despite challenges in the coconut industry, production and supply of coconut is not expected to be affected by the two insects.

The Philippines is currently the world's number 2 producer of coconut after Indonesia, but remains the world's top exporter.

Department of Agriculture spokesperson Asec. Arnel de Mesa said the President ordered the agency to boost coconut production in the country.

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