Cocolisap infests half a million coconut trees - PCA

Metro Manila, Philippines - Half a million coconut trees across eight regions were infested by the coconut scale insect, or locally called cocolisap, the government reported Wednesday, June 10.

As of May 30, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said nearly 90 percent of around 516,000 coconut trees were in the Zamboanga Peninsula, which encountered a similar infestation nine years ago.

Other affected regions are Calabarzon, Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Bangsamoro.

PCA Administrator Dexter Buted said the situation is still “manageable,” with the affected only comprising 0.15 percent of fruit-bearing trees nationwide.

PCA Deputy Administrator Roel Rosales also said the possible production loss was estimated at P200 million. Affected areas span a total of around 3,600 hectares.

“We are very concerned, though it pales in comparison to the 2014 infestation… these (cocolisap) are affecting a lot of areas,” Rosales said in a briefing.

The PCA said the country is the world’s second biggest producer of coconut and the top exporter of coconut products.

Asked if the infestation could have an impact on supply, Rosales only said 2025 is a “good year” for the coconut industry, especially with the recovery after a strong El Niño last year.

Cocolisap is a leaf sucking insect, and its maximum infestation could result in a 60 percent loss in yield.

In 2014, over two million coconut trees were affected by infestation in Calabarzon and Basilan.

The PCA hopes the population of cocolisap will diminish in the rainy season.

Buted said the PCA has set up checkpoints to prevent the further spread of the pest. Other interventions were leaf pruning and spraying of pesticides, creating regional monitoring teams, and releasing biological control agents.

“As much as we can, we do not use chemicals compared to the 2014 experience… We are more mindful that there is a market that we have to protect, and the environment also needs to be sustained,” Rosales said.

The PCA said it is also considering the application of fertilizers in the rainy season to let palms recover and ensure the return of the “robust state” of coconuts.

The treatment process is expected to be completed within the year and “see good effect” by year-end or early next year.

Meanwhile, Buted also reported an infestation of coconut spike moth in around 20,000 coconut palms in Quezon and Laguna in March.

“Ang spike moth natuturing talagang mapinsala dahil sa kanyang pagiging agresibo at kakayanan lumipad at magpalipat-lipat sa karating na puno,” he said.

[Translation: The spike moth is considered harmful because it is aggressive and could fly and move around in nearby trees.]

The PCA has sprayed pesticides and biopesticides, cut unproductive and severely infested palms, and replanted early-bearing and high-yielding varieties.

The agency said it has a P60 million budget to eradicate cocolisap and another P34 million to address other pests this year.