Six areas in Bayawan City in Negros Oriental are strugglingg with coconut leaf beetle infestation that has affected at least 11,335 coconut trees.
The areas affected are in the boulevard area, Barangays Villareal, Tinago, Boyco, Suba and Tabuan in Bayawan City, about 100 kilometers south of this capital city.
Majority of the infected coconut trees are newly planted and aged three years and below.
According to Philippine Coconut Authority Provincial Manager Brendan Trasmonte, they are expecting a continuous rise in the infestation of the coconut leaf beetle or brontispa, as monitoring and surveillance is conducted in different barangays of Bayawan City.
He said of the 11,335 infected coconut trees only 4,559 have been treated through slash-and-burn and chemical spraying. The slash-and-burn is being done to immediately control the spread of the pests.
The local government unit of Bayawan City has provided the chemicals used in spraying the severely infected coconut trees.
They are also working on the biological way of killing the pests through the use of parasitoids. A scientist from PCA Davao Research Center will be coming to Negros Oriental next week to establish a laboratory to culture parasitoids. Trasmonte added the parasitoid is proven effective because its primary source of food is the larvae of the coconut leaf beetle.
Trasmonte said they have conducted massive information campaign trainings and seminar for barangay officials in Bayawan City after the first monitored infestation was reported. He is also thankful that the farmers’ association in Bayawan City has reported the incident immediately to PCA office.
At present, the farmer’s organizations and barangay officials have been actively assisting the PCA field technicians in conducting survey, monitoring and surveillance of all coconut areas in Bayawan City. It is important to undergo surveillance in all areas because the coconut leaf beetle is capable to fly.
Bayawan City is still the only area in Negros Oriental that has been reported with brontispa infestation.
Transportation of coconut seedlings and other plants belonging to the palm family from Bayawan City is now strictly prohibited. (PNA/JFP/Maricar Aranas)