Press Release

Amidst the extension in the implementation of the “Intensified Community Quarantine” in the province of Bohol, the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) will launch the “KADIWA on Wheels” (Mobile Market) on Tuesday in Poblacion, Dauis, Bohol.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Larry M. Pamugas and Rosanna G. Lamdagan, Head-Agribusiness Division, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said that Gov. Art C. Yap wantsthe KADIWA on Wheels, like in other areas, be launched in the province to assist farmer-entrepreneurs hereto markettheir products and bring these direct to the consumers to avail farm gate prices which are cheaper than those in wet markets and malls. This could also contribute to governments’ effort in controlling the spread of corona virus by way of minimizing convergence in markets and malls.
They said that the products to be sold are rice, vegetables, rootcrops, fruits, fish and other fishery products.
The well-milled and regular milled rice are from Rice Processing Center (RPC) inPilar, Carmen SamahangNayon, and San Isidro Pilar Cooperative; vegetables from SOJIYUAN in Cantaob, Sierra-Bullones, and Balilihan Vegetable Growers; rootcrops from Palayamanan Project partners;
The product sources of fruits are from the mango grower of Lila, lakatan banana of Balilihan, Water Melon Growers of Dimiao and Lila, pineapple growers of Carmen; while the fish and other fishery products are from fish traders inTalibon.
In the preparatory meeting last Wednesday at the Capitol office of Dr. Pamugas together with the DA-Regional Field Office 7 and OPA staff it was agreed that producers shall display and sell products 10-20% lesser than the prevailing market prices. It was also emphasized that sellers shall bring their respective tables, chairs, weighing scales and biodegradable containers (supot and bags).
During the product display, an assigned staff from OPA and DA shall facilitate the operation of the mobile market, document the activity and closely retrieve sales reports and gather comments and suggestions from both buyers and suppliers/farmers.
Dr. Pamugas said that the criteria for target municipalities/ barangays are based on the Bohol Provincial Price Coordinating Council (BPPCC) data with high prevalence of agri-fishery products; and have positive support of MLGU in disseminating/coordination of the event.
Pamugas emphasized that at the KADIWA on Wheels, the services of the barangay officials, Philippine National Police Personnel, and the barangay tanods are needed to manage the flow of the consumers to strictly observe the social distancing. (Atoy Cosap)

BASIC COMMODITIES. These basic commodities have been sold at the “KADIWA on Wheels” to be formally launched on Tuesday in Poblacion, Dauis, Bohol which aims to bring agricultural products direct to the consumers for them to avail farm gate prices. Top photo shows the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 7 staff during the preparatory meeting for the formal launching.

The province of Bohol has enough supplies of vegetables amid this time of crisis due to the implementation of
“Intensified Community Quarantine” because of COVID-19.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Larry M. Pamugas said that based on the daily monitoring conducted by the
OPA staff there are no signs that the supplies are dwindling and the prices are still on the range of the ceiling retail
prices set by the Department of Agriculture except the vegetable growing municipalities like Balilihan and
Catigbian, the retail prices are lower ranging from P20 to P40.
Dr. Pamugas said that the shipment of vegetable supplies and other agricultural products from Cebu and Cagayan
has been normal aside from the vegetables coming from Cantaob, Sierra Bullones; Jagna, Duero, Guindulman,
Catigbian, Carmen, Sagbayan, and Balilihan.
Meanwhile, he urged the Boholanos including those spending their “quarantine” time to engage in backyard
gardening in order to have more vegetable production and not only depending on the supplies at the markets.
Rufa Ugay, High Value Commercial Crop Development Program coordinator said that as of now, the available
seeds of pechay, eggplant, kangkong, squash, okra, beans, and ampalaya at the OPA are good only for backyard
gardening.
The seeds were purchased from the supplemental budget for this year worth P1 million while waiting for the
emergency purchase worth P1.5 million of which the bidding has not yet conducted aside from the P500,000 worth
of vegetable seeds appropriation intended for this year.
Ugay disclosed that based on the OPA record, the numbers of beneficiaries of the seeds distribution who have
come personally at the office have been increased which means that more Boholanos now are engaging in planting
vegetables in any other ways such as backyard or containerized gardenings.
Gov. Art C. Yap while underscoring the efforts of our vegetable growers who have been engaging the backyard or
containerized gardenings, strongly urged the Boholanos to plant vegetables in a big areas for additional production
to cater our needs and not only depending on the supplies from other provinces. (Atoy Cosap)
Caption:
VEGETABLE SUPPLIES. Enough vegetable supplies have been regularly displayed at any wet market in the
province of Bohol. These photos are
taken in the public market in Sagbayan, Bohol. Photo by April Regine Inocian, OPA staff

The Bohol Provincial Price Coordinating Council (BPPCC) has been investigating the reported
increase on prices of some basic commodities amid the implementation of price freeze while Bohol is
under in the implementation of the “Community Quarantine.”
The BPPCC headed by Governor Art C. Yap received the results of price monitoring in selected
public markets in the municipalities and in the city for the period March 26 to April 1, 2020 conducted by
the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), one of the members of the BPPCC showed that retail
prices of both well milled and regular milled rice increased by P2.00-P7.00 per kilo; corn grits of which
the retail prices still increased from P1.00-P2.00; ginger with a remarkable increase between P70.00-
P100.00; calamansi increased by P10.00 to P52.00; lakatan banana a remarkable increase ranges from
P30.00-P50.00; cooking oil, an increase ranges from P3.00 to P5.00/ pack in wet markets in the city and
in the municipalities; and dried fish, retail of potpot increase by P50-100 starting March 25, 2020;
The governor said that daily price monitoring has been closely conducted to ensure that the
implementation of the price freeze of all basic commodities would not be violated by the erring owners of
establishments who would take advantage in the situation while the consumers are bracing on the impact
in the implementation of the “Community Quarantine” of Bohol.
Earlier, Boholano DTI Assistant Secretary Aster Caberte said those who will violate the price freeze
will face penalties of at least P1 million, imprisonment or both.
SUGGESTED PRICE CEILINGS
Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador D. Diputado, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field
Office (DA-RFO) 7 last March 23, 2020 respectfully endorsed to Gov. Yap the Suggested Price Ceilings
(SPC) of the following agricultural and fishery commodities for the province of Bohol.
Agricultural/Fishery Commodity: Price Ceiling Range (in PhP/kilogram) low – high: Cereals – Well
Milled Rice – 34.00-43.00, Regular Milled Rice – P36.00-38.00, Corn grits (white) – 26.00-35.00;
Pork: Belly – 225.00-240.00, Ham – 210.00-240.00, Lean Pork – 225-230.00;
Beef: Brisket – 190.00-220.00, Sirloin Steak – 300.00-450.00;
Chicken: Whole Chicken – 150.00-160.00;
Eggs (Chicken): Small – 5.00-7.50, Medium – 5.25-8.00, Large – 6.00-8.50;
Vegetables, Roots & Tubers: Ampalaya – 50.00-110.00, Eggplant – 50.00-100.00, Squash – 20.00-
35.00, Chayote – 20.00-35.00, Cabbage – 60.00-90.00, Pechay, Native – 60.00-90.00, Kangkong (per
bundle) – 10.00-20.00, Stringbeans – 40.00-75.00, Carrots – 50.00-90.00, Gabi – 55.00-70.00, Gabi –
55.00-70.00, Camote – 20.00-35.00, Ginger – 110.00-150.00, Garlic Bulbs – 170.00-230.00, Onion
Bermuda Red -110.00-200.00;
Fruits & Other Upland Crops: Lakatan – 60.00-70.00, Latundan – 35.00-45.00, Mango 85.00-120.00,
Watermelon – 35.00-40.00, Calamansi – 50.00-70.00, Papaya – 30.00-40.00;
Fresh Fish: Bangus/ Milkfish – 160.00-200.00, Salimbagon/ Skipjack Tuna – 180-280, Tulingan/
Frigate Tuna – 180.00-220.00, Tamban Tuloy/ Goldstripe Sardinella – 60.00-100.00, Galunggong/ Borot-
borot/ Round Scad – 150.00-220.00, Tamarong/ Big-eyed scad – 180.00-280.00, Molmol/ Parrot Fish –
200.00-280.00, Danggit/ Rabbit Fish – 200.00-280.00, Hasa-hasa/ Short-bodied Mackerel – 220.00-
250.00, Tilapia – 160.00;
Dried Fish: Mangsi – 160.00-250.00, Potpot – 240.00-280.00, Bolinao – 300.00-350.00;
Other Products: Refined Sugar – 47.00-60.00, Brown Sugar – 37.00-46.00, Cooking Oil – 20.00-
22.00.
Atty. Diputado pointed out that pursuant to Republic Act No. 7581, otherwise known as the Price Act,
which provides protection to consumers by stabilizing the prices of basic necessities and prime
commodities and recommending measures against undue price increase during the emergency situations
and like occasion, and after consultation with government agency partners, thus DA-RFO7 endorsed the
SPC. (Atoy Cosap)

BASIC COMMODITIES. Prices of some basic commodities in the province of Bohol to include well milled and
regular milled rice, ginger, calamansi, lakatan banana, cooking oil, have been monitored to have a
remarkable increase amid the implementation of price freeze due to COVID-19. Photo by April Regine Inocian

Some hectares of rice lands in the province of Bohol have been infested with rice black bug that would eventually affect bigger areas if not to be controlled or eradicated.
Lorebien Lagapa and Alquin Boncales from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said the rice black bug has started to damage the 3 hectares (has.) rice lands of Golden Estoy, 1.5 has. of Jonel Potot and the half has. of Diosdado Paguray booth in Purok 1, Calanggaman, Ubay, Bohol.
Estoy standing crop is at the panicle initiation stage; while hard dough to ripening stage for Potot and Paguray.
Potot confirmed that the black bug infestation has started at his farm and affected the adjacent farms of Estoy and Paguray.
He said that they already conducted spraying using pesticides but the infestation doesn’t control and instead it has spread.
Lagapa said that they have known the incidence through the verbal report from Municipal Agriculturist Marianito Doydora.
She said the OPA sent immediately Boncales to the areas to give technical assistance.
She said that the OPA had already requested verbally the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 7 to send Metarhizium-Biological Control agent to control the affected areas whose standing crop is at the panicle or booting stage, however, not applicable to the hand dough to ripening stage.
Lagapa explained that they could not make a formal request because the protocol being followed is that the formal letter request from the Municipal Agriculture Office must be attached to the official letter request from OPA to DA-RFO7.
She said that they scheduled to conduct a light-trapping operation to kill the rice black bug on the first week of April which is full moon.
Lagapa said that after harvesting the affected areas of black bug infestation including the rice hays would be burned out to kill all the pests.
The province of Bohol has 47,378 has. of rice production areas of which 26,311 has. are rainfed and 21,014 are irrigated being tilled by 60,063 rice farmers with an average age of 57. (Atoy Cosap)

BLACK BUG INFESTATION.Diosdado Paguray of Purok 1, Calanggaman, Ubay, Bohol shows his rice farm infested with rice black bug of which per hill there are more than 10 bugs to attack the rice plant.
photoLAGAPA / BONCALES, OPA

In the expanded mangrove planting program in the Province of Bohol targeting 1.5 million propagules for planting, about 30,000 mangrove propagules were planted in the towns of Getafe and Talibon, Bohol.
Remedios Regacho, chief, Fisheries Division, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said that there were 5,000 propagules planted in Nasingin Island, Getafe last Feb. 7, 2020; 5,000 were planted in Campao, Getafe last March 6, 2020; while 20,000 were planted in San Francisco, Talibon last March 13, 2020 and last Friday.
Regacho admitted the shortage of planting materials considering that the seasons of propagules to be matured will be in the months of May and June.
However, she said that the employees of the Fishery Section, OPA, have been bagging wildlings of various species of mangrove (Bakhaw, Pagatpat and Lapis-Lapis) at the mangrove nurseries in Sta. Fe, Albur and Canigaan, Loon.
She said that they prefer planting materials from the nurseries because the survival rate is 98% compared to direct planting of propagules which has 50%-60% only.
Regacho emphasized the importance of planting mangrove at the seashores because it serves as a nursery ground to nurture small fishes through planktons which come from the decayed leaves of mangrove; haven of sea shells, crabs and shrimps; provides protection against strong winds and waves, and provides livelihood through fuel or charcoal making.
She said that Bohol has been known as the biggest mangrove plantation in Southeast Asia of which the Banacon Island Mangrove Forest in Banacon Island, Getafe has an area of 425 hectares (has.).
The mangrove plantations in Getafe, Calape, and Loon are covered by National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act while the plantations in Albur, Loay and Loboc are areas covered by NIPAS act and Protected Seascape and Landscapeboth managed by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) chaired by the DENR, co-chaired by the mayor and the barangay captain as member of the concerned locality.
Aside from the mangrove plantation, the PGBh aims to plant millions of trees and fruit trees.
It may be recalled that late last year thousands of fruit trees and endemic or native trees were planted in Ubay Water Service Cooperative (UWASCO) water shed areas. (Atoy Cosap)

MANGROVE PLANTING. Remedios Regacho (standing, 7thfrom left, top photo), chief, Fisheries Division, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) leads the planting of mangrove propagules on March 6, 2020 in Campao Occidental, Getafe, Bohol which part of the Mangrove Planting Program of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) aims at protecting our environment. (Anthony Pastorfide)

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has 15 nominees for the different categories of the GawadSaka Search at the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 7 for this year.
Dr. Larry M. Pamugas, Officer-in-Charge, OPA said that last Monday the provincial agriculture had respectfully endorsed to Atty. Salvador D. Diputado, Ph.D. LLM, Regional Executive Director DA-RFO7 the list of the provincial nominees of Bohol for the regional level search who are the following: NunelitoVen C. Garrote of Purok 3, Dela Paz, Cortes (Outstanding Small Animal Raiser); Vicente Rosales, Jr., Purok 2, Casate, Ubay (Outstanding Large Animal Raiser); Eulogio C. Galler, Omjon, Valencia (Outstanding Corn Farmer Adoption Integrated Farming System); Canlusong Women’s Association, Canlusong Valencia (Outstanding Rural Improvement Club (RIC); Ubojan Young Dreamers 4-H Club, Sagbayan (Outstanding Young Farmer Association Club);
PoncianoSumampong, Batuan (Outstanding Farmer-Fish Culture); Rodrigo Evardo, Talibon (Outstanding Fish Capture); Ubay Fish Vendor Association, Ubay (Outstanding Fishermen’s Association), Efrenia Holt, Cabayugan, Calape (Outstanding Rural Woman); Canjulao League of Women (CLOW), Canjulao, Jagna (Outstanding Agri-Enterprise for Crop); Cornelio Galamiton, Matin-ao, Sierra Bullones (High-Value Commercial Development Program (HVCDP) Farmer); Jorge M. Pamugas, Dangay, Albur (Coconut Farmer); Vicente and MarcianaLuminarias, Trinidad (Farm Family); AquileoColumnas, Carmen (Rice Farmer Adopting Integrated Farming); and Emerson Añasco, Carmen (Young Farmer category).
Dr. Pamugas explained that the PGBh has abled to summit the nominees for GawadSaka Search at the regional level after the evaluators had completed evaluating all the nominees for the SuhidsaMalampusong Mag-uumang Bola-non 2020 and come-up the winners of the different categories which would automatically be the nominees of the search.
It may be recalled that since February 3, 2020, the SUHID evaluators from National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Bureau of Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Provincial Field Office, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office-Department of Agriculture (PATCO-DA), Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) and OPA had done the evaluations to the 108 nominees for the 27 categories of the provincial search after they were being asked by Pamugas to fast track the evaluations to come up with the winners for the GawadSaka Search nominees.
The GawadSaka Search is one of three activities of the DA-RFO7 tripled with the Regional Achievers Award (RAA) and Regional Organic Award (ROA) of which the awarding ceremony will be simultaneously conducted.
Helen Igot, section head-Institutional Division Section, Agribusiness Division, OPA said that there are other nominees from Bohol for ROA and RAA. However, their endorsements have not come from OPA but through the Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs) or Municipal Agriculturists (MAs).
Last year GawadSaka Search, RAA and ROA, the nominees from Bohol bagged 18 of the close to 30 categories.
Pamugas is expecting that more categories would still be garnered by Boholano nominees besting other provinces in Central Visayas; Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. (Atoy Cosap)

Even though that the prices of copra are low, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in the province of Bohol has strongly urged the Boholanos to plant coconut for future income, four to five years to go if properly grown.
PCA Provincial Manager Emiliano Romero and PCA Senior Agriculturist Primo Galendez have made the call amid the continued re-planting program of coconut spearheaded by their office.
Romero and Galendez said that the two coconut nurseries in Bohol namely: Central Visayas Coconut Seed Production Center (CVCSPC) in Calanggaman, Ubay and the Loay Code Farmer (LCF) in La Salinas, Loay have produced the hybrid and dwarf varieties of coconut seedlings and are ready to be planted in the re-planting program to include the participatory coconut planting, coconut seedling dispersal, and accelerated coconut planting and rehabilitation programs.
They said that the CVCSPC has produced the hybrid PCA 15-9, Hybrid PCA 15-4, MRDX Tagnanan and green dwarf varieties (Katigan and Takunan) while the LCF has only produced the green dwarf varieties.
The hybrid varieties will bear fruits within five years after planting while the dwarf varieties have four years if properly grown by the farmers to include the proper application of fertilizer.
Earlier, Romero disclosed that in the coconut seedling dispersal program, the farmers were given coconut seedlings by PCA for them to plant while the participatory coconut planting program, requires the farmers to plant utilizing their own seedlings and they would be paid by the PCA at P45 per stabilized coconut seedling.
On the other hand, the accelerated coconut planting and rehabilitation program is another of which the farmers were given the coconut coir-based organic fertilizer.
Romero and Galendez said that the two nurseries are not only supplying the needed coconut seedlings in Central Visayas but also in Tacloban and Leyte areas or in Region 8.
They said that the drive against illegal cutting of coconut trees has no letting up considering that there are still violators of which some of them were already penalized and convicted.
As of now, Bohol has 104,000 hectares (has.) of planted coconut and the area is still increasing due to the re-planting program. (AtoyCosap)

CAPTION:

VARIETIES OF COCONUT TREES. The hybrid variety (left photo) and the green dwarf variety (right photo) of coconut trees are both recommended by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for plantingthrough the re-planting program in the province of Bohol. These varieties are produced at the Central Visayas Seed Production Center in Calanggaman, Ubay, Bohol and Loay Code Farmer in La Salinas, Loay, Bohol.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) like any other offices in the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has implemented the “Skeletal Force Manpower” work arrangement.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Larry M. Pamugas explained that this work arrangement were the revision of what he has first requested Governor Art C. Yap last March 16, 2020 for a flexible work setup in the OPA. This is intended as an alternative to further lessen the number of employees reporting to work in the new capitol which means lesser number of people to monitor and lesser chances of virus transmission.
Pamugas further explained that this scheme has been implemented after being approved by Provincial Administrator Atty. Kathyrin Fe D. Pioquinto by authority of the governor but must observe and respect the normal office hours at the office to comply with the Civil Service Commission directive for the 40-hour work week.
ALTERNATIVE WORK ASSIGNMENTS
The approved alternative work assignments and guidelines in the homes implemented at the OPA state to allow all office-based employees including contractual and job order workers to work at home and perform agriculture and fishery-related tasks that may be assigned subject to further internal office guidelines such as but not limited to:
The field employees assigned in facilities nurseries and hatcheries shall remain dispensing or rendering their work during normal working hours subject to the social distancing measures that health experts suggests;
Bagging of soil media for seedlings at 200 bag per day, mangroves or fruit tree growing at a minimum of 10 trees a day, vegetable growing at a minimum of 20 hills per day either in containers or in plots, encoding of agriculture and fishery database, drafting of different OPA Information Education Communication (IEC) materials, technical staff will focus their job in their respective target areas, any office target that may be performed at home authorized by the immediate supervision;
All OPA employees working at home and facilities shall be obliged to keep their phone lines open for office actionable matters needing immediate attention; allow pregnant women and other employees with health concerns to strictly adopt the work at home performing whichever activity is applicable subject however to supervision of their immediate supervisor.
SKELETAL FORCE
The skeletal force or manpower assigned at the office in rotation basis shall be tasked to receive communications and tend to clients needing assistance. However, matters needing immediate action by specific personnel authorized to work from home shall be immediately communicated to such person and his/her immediate supervision for appropriate action, he said.
Pamugas said that an employee who has an important activity outside of these guidelines shall seek approval from his/her immediate supervisor prior to the performance of such.
The Assistant Provincial Agriculturist in the provincial government clarified that while these alternative work assignments may have adverse effect to our precious and official primary work targets and assignments, we also recognize that this COVID 19 crisis needs the most effective measures to resolve it altogether.
This means that we have to explore all our options to stop the spread of the virus through any means necessary and through minimizing the number of employees in office spaces, he added.
SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES FOR PREVENTION,
MITIGATION OF COVID-19
Last March 23, 2020, PA Pioquinto by authority of Gov. Yap issued a memorandum to all provincial officials, employees and workers regarding the supplemental guidelines for the prevention and mitigation of the COVID-19 stating to further take necessary steps in minimizing risk or to prevent, contain, and mitigate the possible transmission of the fast-rising horrific COVID-19 in the communities, thus alternative work arrangement in the PGBh is being implemented.
It stated that the Department Head/Head of Office/ Chief of Hospital is directed to organize a scheme that is applicable and customized to the nature of its office services; flexible work schedule of not earlier than 7 a.m. and not later than 7 p.m. is allowed as far as practicable, except those on 24/7 duty; work from home arrangement shall be approved by the department head, head of office and chief of hospital as recommended by the division heads based on applicable and agreed upon work load deliverables.
WORK FROM HOME
In making schedules and priorities in “Work From Home” arrangements, the following would take into consideration: categorized as senior citizen employees (ages 60 and above); pregnant and lactating mothers; employees with the following health circumstances: cancer, diabetes type 1 & 2, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal disease, immune-compromised among others; maintain a skeletal staff of not more than 50% daily to decongest the office, maintain social distancing and a mandatory wearing of face mask; temporary suspension in the use of biometric machines in recording employees’ attendance in office retroactive March 16, 2020 until April 30, 2020.
Wearing of office uniforms is optional for employees’ convenience but shall be on appropriate business attire considering the scarcity of means of transportation in going to and from their respective offices wherein many opt to reach their offices by just walking than waiting for a vehicle;
And a Work From Home accomplishment shall be required by the department head, head of office and chief of hospital and concerned employee shall be on call anytime during working days when services so require, otherwise, the privilege accorded to the employees would have been abused to the prejudice of public service.
In the quest that the province of Bohol and the new capitol are free from the spread of virus, Dr. Pamugas always reminded the division heads of OPA to monitor the health of each employee of which anyone who has flu like symptoms (fever, cold, or cough) should not be allowed to report to work and the heads shall be held responsible for any lapse of his directive.
Pamugas emphasized that the normal office operations shall be restored immediately once the situations become normalize and a subsequent proclamation from the office of the governor be issued. (Atoy Cosap)

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Provincial Government of Bohol and the coconut farmers are bracing against the possible full-blown infestation of coconut leaf beetle (Brontispa Longissima) to coconut plantation in the province to curb if not totally control the damage.
Emiliano Romero, Bohol Provincial PCA Manager, quoting the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network data, said the coconut leaf beetle is one of the most damaging pests of coconut and other palms.
The larvae and adults of the beetle feed on the soft tissues of the youngest leaf in the center stem of the palm. Affected leaves dry up, resulting in stunting of the palm and reduced nut production. Prolonged attacks on young palms can lead to decay.
Romero said that almost all towns in the province of Bohol have been infested especially the newly planted coconut tree, however, at a minimal stage.
The PCA manager in the province said that farmers whose coconut plantations are affected by the palm leaf beetle were given parasitoid (biological control agent) cultured at their laboratory in Loay, Bohol to control the spread of the beetle.
According to an Asian-based palm research institute, biological control by using parasitoid, predator and entomopathogenic fungus has a good chance to depress population of B. longissima in the field. Pest control by using natural enemies is not as popular as using pesticide. Biological control would decrease the use of insecticides. Therefore, it has a good impact on the environment. Additionally, this practice has a long-term impact to depress or manage the pest population on coconut plantation in low level of palm damage.
Romero further explained that the coconut leaf beetle was accidentally brought here in the Philippines through ornamental importation from the affected countries abroad.
AREAS PLANTED WITH COCONUT
The province of Bohol has 104,000 hectares (has) of coconut plantation and increasing with the continued re-planting program of the PCA to include participatory coconut planting, coconut seedling dispersal, and accelerated coconut planting and rehabilitation programs.
In the coconut seedling dispersal program, the farmers were given coconut seedlings by PCA for them to plant while the participatory coconut planting program requires the farmers to plant utilizing their own seedling and they would be paid by the PCA at P45 per stabilized coconut seedling.
On the other hand, the accelerated coconut planting and rehabilitation program is another program of which the farmers were given the coconut coir based organic fertilizer.
Romero bared that in the re-planting program, the province has an average area of 1,200 has. planted annually.
COPRA PRICE
In the present condition that the buying price of copra is P70 per kilo, Romero suggested that coconut farmers become entrepreneurs by utilizing the whole nut. They can sell eight months old young nut and process these into dried coconut chips. The nine months old nut demands higher prices. This can be an alternative from solely depending on copra.
Romero said the income of the coconut farmers in the Philippines have been greatly affected by low prices of copra in the international market which also dictates the prices in local markets because of so many competitors in the source of edible oil such as oil palm, soya beans among others.
He said that copra industry in the country is not locally but internationally market driven commodity with 70% exportation and only 30% domestic usage and as such if the prices are shaken the income of the farmers would be greatly affected.
Romero said this is a reverse situation in other countries where exportation is only 30% and the domestic usage is 70%.
ILLEGAL CUTTING
The PCA manager said that the campaign to go against the illegal cutting of coconut trees has no letting up.
In fact, he said that there are three violators from the towns of Loboc, Sikatuna, and Getafe who are convicted.
In Loboc, the chainsaw operator was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and in Sikatuna the culprit has meted a fine of P100,000 and imprisonment of two years while in Getafe a couple was convicted of which the wife had paid a fine of P100,000 and the husband has served two years of imprisonment.
Romero urged the Boholanos to refrain from illegal cutting of coconut trees, and instead engage in re-planting program activities of the plant species coined as “The Tree of Life.” (Atoy Cosap)

BRONTISPA INFESTATION. Deadly Brontispa Longissima or coconut leaf beetle (photo below) attacks the coconut tree through the soft tissues of the youngest leaf in the center stem resulting in stunting of the palm and reduced nut production and the prolonged attacks on young palms can lead to decay and eventually die. Emiliano Romero (inset), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) manager in Bohol, however, says that the infestation of the coconut leaf beetle in the province is minimal.