The Officer-In-Charge of the Provincial Coconut Development Management said yesterday that Negros Occidental is free from the infestation called cocolisap.

Joel Solis said the coconut farmers of the province still enjoy the harvest of their coconut trees that are not infested by the beetle that has plagued other provinces of the country.

Solis said that, although there is no reported incidence of cocolisap in the province, they are still closely monitoring plants, fruits and other agricultural products from other provinces.

He also said they are requiring fruit producers not to use coconut materials as cushion, rope and baskets in the shipment of their products in the province. Lanzones, Mangosteen, papaya, coffee and cacao are agricultural products that carry the larvae of the beetle.

Solis said there are sightings of cocolisap in some areas of Mindanao where these fruits came from. The beetle has already damaged two million coconut trees in the CALABARZON areas, he said. The continuous fertilization of the tree to boost its immunity will be the best prevention, he added.*MNM

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