By Manny Piñol
My God, this is what President Rody Duterte hates most.
Yesterday, it was established that the very slow government reaction and action on the infestation of the Coconut Scale Insect (CSI) or Cocolisap caused the P12-B damage to the industry in the Bicol and CALABARZON regions and now threatens coconut farms in Mindanao as well.
The Cocolisap Problem was first seen in Basilan in 2007 but the government did not act right away.
During the meeting of the DA-led Regional Technical Working Group (TWG), it was established that poor monitoring, slow reaction and the tedious government processes in its procurement system caused the spread of the Cocolisap infestation in the country.
Reports made by experts during the meeting at the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Experiment Station in San Ramon, Zamboanga City showed that the first signs of Cocolisap infestation was seen in Basilan Island as early as 2007.
It was believed to have been brought in by unwitting carriers who came from Indonesia which the insect is believed to have originated.
In 2010 to 2012, the PCA rang the alarm bells and requested for fund assistance to address the Cocolisap Infestation in Basilan which already affected an estimated 200,000 hectares.
By the time the funds needed for the interventions were made available in 2014, the infestation has already spread to an estimated 600,000 hectares in Basilan.
After that, there was no stopping on the spread of the Cocolisap all over Basilan.
Today, the Cocolisap infestation has devastated an estimated 3 million of the 6 million standing coconut trees and threatens to destroy the P2-B industry in the island-province which is the main source of income of the people.
Now, everybody is frantically trying to present every solution imaginable.
It is all a classic example of that old Tagalog saying: “Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo.” (Of what use would the hay be, if the horse has died of hunger.)
Two months ago, President Duterte, upon hearing of the pleadings of Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman Saliman, directed me to proceed to Basilan Province to take a look at the Cocolisap infestation and recommend what needs to be done to address the problem.
After visiting Basilan, I immediately organised a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of the Dept. of Agriculture, the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Plant Quarantine Service and the City Government of Zamboanga, including the province of Basilan.
It was quite an awkward situation for the DA and myself actually because the PCA is not directly under my department having been separated from the DA during the time of Pres. Benigno Aquino III.
Also, Basilan Province, except the City of Isabela, is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and as such is directly covered by DA operations.
But I decided to brave intrigues that I was infringing on the functions of other offices because it was a Presidential directive and besides, the people affected are Filipino farmers.
Yesterday, the TWG established the protocols on how to address the Cocolisap problem.
First, it was agreed that what we are confronting is the problem of the infestation of a Scale Insect called Cocolisap. Malnutrition, as earlier suggested, is considered a contributory factor to or an end result of the infestation.
Second, it was agreed that all agencies must work together and do away with the concerns on “who does what” and “whose jurisdiction is it.”
Third, it was agreed that actions must be well-coordinated: PCA handles the technical operations, the Dept. of Agriculture provides manpower and logistical support, the Quarantine Service takes care of quarantine operations, the local government units handle the community organising and information dissemination, and the private sector supports by sponsoring radio programs for the education of the farmers.
Fourth, it was the consensus that in addressing the Cocolisap problem, the following options would be observed:
1. If the coconut trees can no longer be saved, these must be cut down and the farmers are organised to produce coco lumber, furniture and charcoal briquettes to make use of the fallen trees;
2. Trees which could still be saved will undergo two interventions: the biological pest control or the chemical trunk injection or root absorption. Whichever proves to be more effective, will be utilised in future operations;
3. Replanting must be started in areas where affected and senile trees have been cut down while at the same time providing alternative farming activities for the farmers like corn, rice and vegetable farming and even fishing.
4. In areas which are threatened, preventive measures must be undertaken, including the education of the community so that proper monitoring would be made.
Yesterday, I directed the DA Regional Office under Director Constancio Alama to extend full support to the PCA in addressing the problem, including providing logistical and manpower support.
I urged them not to be constrained by the fear of auditing rules because in situations like this, one day of delay could give the Cocolisap a headway and its spread may no longer be contained later.
While proper documentation and processes must be observed and followed, action must be very fast and work must be done even on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
This is what I believe President Duterte’s message is: Government must be decisive and fast in responding to the cries for help of the people.
Lessons must be learned from the mistakes of the past.
Repeating a mistake over and over again is plain and simple stupidity.
(Photos show the extent of the Cocolisap infestation in Basilan and the proofs of its presence in Zamboanga City and the towns of Liloy and Labason in Zamboanga del Norte.)
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