Coconut pest affects 25 provinces; Negros Occidental safe
Brontispa Longgissimo Gestro, a coconut pest that threatens the county's P40 Billion coconut industry has now affected 25 provinces infecting 171,000 coconut trees the Department of Agriculture, said.
Negros Occ. Quarantive Inspector Mario Suarnaba said the province, so far, has not yet been affected by the coconut leaf beetle because symptoms of the infestations are not yet seen on local coconut trees.
He explained, however, that there is no assurance Negros Occ. is totally free from "brontispa" invasion because it is possible that the pest may have already set in and the signs may come out later.
Suarnaba appealed to the citizens for their full cooperation especially in following Executive Order 664 prohibiting the transport of plants belonging to the palm family to control the spread of the pest.
Meanwhile, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Oscar Garin said the PCA has developed an inexpensive treatment for Brontispa-infested plants, which costs only P5 to P7 per tree.
He said they have already treated 70,000 coconut trees infested by the pest. (PIA-LOL)