By Venus G. Villanueva
Ornamental palms coming from other parts of the country are now banned from entering Boracay Island. This move is done to prevent the further infestation by Brontispa, a flat and slender beetle that feeds on the soft tissues of coconut fronds and other species of palm plants which has already reached Boracay Island and has started destroying domesticated palms in beachfront resorts, as well as the coconuts growing in the island.
Malay mayor Ciceron Cawaling issued the order. Boracay Island is found in the municipality of Malay. Mayor Cawaling also ordered the taking out of ornamental palms from the island, to prevent the infestation from reaching mainland Aklan.
According to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Kalibo, Aklan is the 24th province in the Philippines to be infested by Brontispa. The ornamental palms, according to the PCA, came from other Asian countries which were brought to the Philippines through importation, and eventually found their way to Boracay Island for planting in the landscaped areas of resorts and other tourist establishments.
Presently, the PCA reported that palms and coconuts in Boracay island are on their different stages of infestation – Station 2’s palms and coconuts are 90 percent damaged; Station I, 20 percent and Station 3, 50 percent. According to estimate, some 3,000 coconut trees along the beach in Boracay Island are infested by Brontispa.
The PCA, the Department of Agriculture, the local government units and other stakeholders are now applying several measures to prevent further damage to palm and coconut trees in the island, like pruning and burning infested parts of the plants, using chemical control by injecting coconut trunks with chemicals to kill the larvae of the Brontispa, and spraying the affected parts.
The PCA and other concerned agencies are also in the process of propagating a biological predator of the Brontispa, called the earwig. The earwig, the PCA pointed out, is a friendly insect which is emerging as a “knight in shining black armor.” It is hoped to eradicate and totally wipe out the Brontispa. The earwig is usually found in bananas.
The PCA, with the help of the local government of Malay is doing its best to prevent the Brontispa from coming out of Boracay and finding its way to coconut trees in mainland Aklan.
Aklan is the only province in Western Visayas with the thickest coconut cover. Many Aklanons are dependent on the coconut industry for their livelihood. From the coconut, considered the tree of life, various industries had been spawned in Aklan like coconut cooking oil production, virgin coconut oil and its by-products, nata de coco making and many more.
PCA-Aklan further reported that even bukos (young coconuts) are now being brought to Manila direct from Aklan.
According to the PCA in Kalibo, the Brontispa is the most destructive pest of coconuts and other palms, and the current infestation is the biggest challenge the PCA has faced since its existence. However, the PCA acknowledged that despite the challenge, the national and local governments and local stakeholders are now joining hands with the PCA and the DA to eradicate the pest. /MP
Malay mayor Ciceron Cawaling issued the order. Boracay Island is found in the municipality of Malay. Mayor Cawaling also ordered the taking out of ornamental palms from the island, to prevent the infestation from reaching mainland Aklan.
According to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Kalibo, Aklan is the 24th province in the Philippines to be infested by Brontispa. The ornamental palms, according to the PCA, came from other Asian countries which were brought to the Philippines through importation, and eventually found their way to Boracay Island for planting in the landscaped areas of resorts and other tourist establishments.
Presently, the PCA reported that palms and coconuts in Boracay island are on their different stages of infestation – Station 2’s palms and coconuts are 90 percent damaged; Station I, 20 percent and Station 3, 50 percent. According to estimate, some 3,000 coconut trees along the beach in Boracay Island are infested by Brontispa.
The PCA, the Department of Agriculture, the local government units and other stakeholders are now applying several measures to prevent further damage to palm and coconut trees in the island, like pruning and burning infested parts of the plants, using chemical control by injecting coconut trunks with chemicals to kill the larvae of the Brontispa, and spraying the affected parts.
The PCA and other concerned agencies are also in the process of propagating a biological predator of the Brontispa, called the earwig. The earwig, the PCA pointed out, is a friendly insect which is emerging as a “knight in shining black armor.” It is hoped to eradicate and totally wipe out the Brontispa. The earwig is usually found in bananas.
The PCA, with the help of the local government of Malay is doing its best to prevent the Brontispa from coming out of Boracay and finding its way to coconut trees in mainland Aklan.
Aklan is the only province in Western Visayas with the thickest coconut cover. Many Aklanons are dependent on the coconut industry for their livelihood. From the coconut, considered the tree of life, various industries had been spawned in Aklan like coconut cooking oil production, virgin coconut oil and its by-products, nata de coco making and many more.
PCA-Aklan further reported that even bukos (young coconuts) are now being brought to Manila direct from Aklan.
According to the PCA in Kalibo, the Brontispa is the most destructive pest of coconuts and other palms, and the current infestation is the biggest challenge the PCA has faced since its existence. However, the PCA acknowledged that despite the challenge, the national and local governments and local stakeholders are now joining hands with the PCA and the DA to eradicate the pest. /MP
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