PCA mulls coco logging ban extension

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is considering the extension of the coconut logging moratorium to raise nut production in the coming years.

PCA Administrator Avelino Andal confirmed that many groups have been proposing the extension of the logging ban for another six months.

The moratorium is effective for three months starting Jan. 3, 2017, while there is an on-going review of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act (RA) 10510593.

RA 10510593 amends RA 8048, which aims to streamline the processes related to permits and clearances.

“We have been strictly implementing the moratorium. We also check lumber yards to determine their sources of coconut lumber,” Andal told reporters in a press briefing late Thursday afternoon.

The PCA Governing Board pushed for a logging moratorium due to weak enforcement of RA 8048 or the Coconut Preservation Act of 1995.

“We believe that there have been abuses in the use of cutting permits. For instance, after super typhoon Yolanda, loggers in Quezon province used permits issued for Leyte and Samar provinces,” he added

The national moratorium covers all areas in the country except in Basilan province due to Coconut Scale Insect or cocolisap infestation.

“We have to cut three million infected trees in Basilan and nearly one million trees from areas recently hit by typhoon Nina. The volume is enough to supply the country’s lumber requirement this year,” Andal added.

The PCA chief warned regional and provincial managers to strictly enforce the ban or “they will be transferred to an area without coconut trees.”

“Expect movement of people in the PCA because I am disappointed with field officials who cannot stop coconut logging. Cutting a coconut tree is like killing a human being. It takes five to seven years before a tree bears fruits,” Andal told reporters

In 2016, the country’s coconut production was estimated at 12.59 million metric tons (mmt), 15 percent lower than the 14.81 mmt produced a year ago.

The country has 3.5 million hectares of land planted with coconut trees with average export revenues of USD900 million in the last five years. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO