Gov’t earmarks P752M to fight coco pest

Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan: Here to stay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The government is poised to spend P752.7 million to save an estimated 1.2-million coconut trees affected by scale insects believed to have originated from neighboring Indonesia.

Secretary Francis Pangilinan, President Aquino’s adviser on food security and agriculture modernization, on Monday said the Aspidiotus Rigidus, a species of scale insect, was here to stay.

There are efforts to bring the infestation “down to manageable levels” within the next six months.

“This pest will always be with us. What is strategic here is to bring it down to manageable levels so it would no longer threaten the other regions of the country,” Pangilinan said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

As of last month, he said, the government had spent P65.9 million to address the infestation.

But Pangilinan made it clear that “the evidence does not show that this is precisely where it came from,” referring to Indonesia. He said a government task force went to Indonesia and concluded that “biocontrol agents eventually are the key to manage this pest effectively.”

Three phases 

The government strategy will involve three phases, spending P460 million from June to August, P204 million in the second phase and P88 million in the last.

Pangilinan said the approach would involve the “injection of insecticides, pruning and burning, the setting up of a scale insect laboratory to produce biocon agents, rehabilitation, surveillance and quarantine.”

Last week, President Aquino issued Executive Order No. 169 instituting “emergency measures to control and manage the spread and damage of the aspidiotus rigidus” in the country.

With the Philippines being a leading producer of coconut products, yield loss due to the infestation is projected at P33.6 billion in Regions IV-A, V and IX.

Pangilinan said the government was also concerned about the “social impact” of the scale pests on coconut farmers, who earn an average annual income of only P15,000.

“Our timetable is to be able to see significant results in the next six months. Otherwise, well, the other side of the coin is, if we do not intervene, it can reach the Bicol region and the Zamboanga peninsula by the end of the year,” he said.

“So that is why failure here is not an option.”