The Philippine Coconut Authority said the eradication of coconut pest Brontispa longissima in southern Palawan has been successful.

Citing the terminal operation control report of PCA Provincial Manager Rodolfo Romasanta, PCA administrator Oscar Garin said that during the two month control operation period which started September, chemical control was applied to areas heavily infested by the coconut beetle in the municipalities of Brookes Point, Bataranza and Rizal.

Aside from the chemical control, other measures such as biological control using an endemic black earwig and mechanical control which is immediate and direct method of reducing pest populations were also being applied.

Garin said that observation and validation from field reports revealed the recovery signs with the emergence of new leaf spears from the treated trees.

Garin said that a total of 90,904 coconut trees were treated and saved from all the affected areas. The field operation was done with some funding assistance from the local government units (LGUs).

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said this was an indication that the agriculture department and the PCA are on the top of the situation and on track in its target to completely eliminate the Brontispa infestation in the country.

© 2000. All Right Reserved Philippine Coconut Authority Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines (0632) 928-4501 Email: pca_cpo@yahoo.com.ph