‘Cocolisap’ infestation a serious problem in Basilan – agri chief

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The neighboring island province of Basilan is now dealing with a severe cocolisap infestation problem.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol over the weekend said with six million coconut trees in the province, about three million have been infested with cocolisap.

Piñol said he has discussed the severity of the coconut problem with President Duterte, who is expected to visit the province today and talk to affected farmers.

Coconut is the main industry in Basilan.

“It seems the different government agencies have not agreed yet as to what really hit Basilan, cocolisap or malnutrition of trees,” Piñol said.

“This is actually a very serious problem because if government agencies could not seem to agree on what is the problem then we have a big problem.”

He said the Department of Agriculture (DA) could only do intervention.

“We have to understand and accept the fact that the cocolisap problem has actually affected farming families. We cannot say they are coconut farmers and they should be in the other agency,” Piñol said.

The DA chief said they are undertaking various intervention programs, one of which is to provide agricultural support to the damaged coconut industry in Basilan so that affected farmers would have livelihood.

Piñol said they will turn over today the first seven of 10 units of four-wheel drive tractors to be used by farmers to plant new crops such as corn.

He said farmers want to plant corn under the coconut trees affected by cocolisap.

The DA will also provide 1,000 fiber glass fishing boats and 70 units with engines, nets, hook and line to be delivered today together with corn and vegetable seeds for 300 hectares with corresponding fertilizers.

Piñol said they would also turn over to cities of Lamitan and Isabela P10 million for the DA direct intervention projects for livelihood and scholarship program to be finalized with the Basilan State College.

He, however, expressed fear that cocolisap could move to other areas in Mindanao, as insects have been monitored in Zamboanga City and Sulu as well.

“Unless the government moves fast, cocolisap could devastate the whole coconut industry in Mindanao,” he said.