Press Release
June 9, 2014

Villar hails signing of EO to contain 'cocolisap' infestation

Sen. Cynthia Villar hailed the signing of the executive order that aims to contain the infestation that threatens the country's $2 billion coconut industry and the livelihood of about 3.5 million coconut farmers.

"No other than an urgent executive action is needed to combat this infestation. We are glad the president signed this order to rescue our coconut growers," Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said.

Executive Order (EO) 169 was signed on June 5 and puts in place emergency measures to control and manage the spread and damage of aspidiotus rigidus, a new strain of scale insect that devastated a significant number of coconut farms in Calabarzon and in some areas in Mindanao.

It puts the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in charge of the nationwide effort to control and contain the infestation.

Under the EO, the Bureau of Plant Industry was mandated to deputize the PCA, the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and arrest those caught violating the emergency and quarantine measures, including the confiscation of untreated parts of coconut and other plants.

The order also prohibits the transportation of coconut products and other host plants from areas under quarantine due to scale insect infestation.

During the committee hearing called by Villar last month on Proposed Senate Resolution 576, which she authored, it was learned that the country stands to lose P186 million a year if the infestation will not be contained.

Among the measures recommended by the committee are the following:

1. Continue to control the coconut scale insect infestation;

2. Coordinate with the National Bio Safety Committee for the possible importation of the predators that can eat the scale insects and coordinate with the fertilizer & pesticide authority for testing and approval of organic & non organic pesticides;

3. Review the Department of Agriculture budget requirements to prepare for future outbreaks for all crops;

4. Prepare Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols in case of outbreaks which will damage our crops;

5. The mandate of the National Crop Protection Center should not be limited to research but should include prevention, preparedness and response to outbreaks in any Philippine crop;

6. Implementation of alternative livelihood to mitigate loss of income to farmers due to crop damages;

7. Comprehensive coordination with LGUs and other line agencies for education, eradication and control measures;

8. Rehabilitation of coconut plantations through fertilization and replanting; and

9. There is a need to institutionalize through legislation the National Mapping of all major crops.

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