PCA IMPLEMENTS ORGANIC COCOLISAP TREATMENT PROTOCOL IN CERTIFIED ORGANIC COCO FARMS

摘要

If the 'cocolisap' infestation in CALABARZON will be left unabated, the country will be losing up to P12 billion. Presently, the invasive and prolific insect, which causes a 55-60% loss in nut production, has infested more than two million nut-bearingpalms.The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), under the leadership of Mr. Romulo N. Arancon, Jr. as Administrator, is the lead government agency that is tasked to develop the coconut industry to its full potential. President Aquino's Executive Order (EO) No. 169 issued last June 05, 2014 categorically mandated the PCA to take all legitimate and moral actions to control and manage the spread and damage of coconut scale insect (Aspidiotus rigidus) in the Philippines and mitigate its impact on the coconut industry. The PCA is under the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, headed by Secretary Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan.