PCA bans cutting of coconut trees for 3 months

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has implemented a three-month moratorium on cutting of coconut trees to nearly all provinces across the country, a report on "24 Oras" by Marisol Abdurahman said Wednesday.

The temporary ban against cutting of coconut trees took effect on January 3, the report said.

According to PCA Administrator Avelino Andal, the three-month moratorium is needed despite the existence of Republic Act 10593 or the Coconut Preservation Act of 1995.

"Wala pa ring tigil ang pamumutol ng puno. Tama ba naman 'yun, it's like there is no law. Halimbawa 'yung permit pwedeng gamitin ng ilang beses with the connivance of the police, the PCA, and all others involved," Andal said.

The PCA chief noted that continuous the cutting of coconut trees will endanger the industry.

He said that coconut products are among the Philippines' main agricultural exports and that, in fact, the Philippines is the third biggest coconut exporter in the world.

"Mula sa pagkain to industrial to construction to everything. In fact, wala kang sabon kung wala kang coconut oil," Andal said.

Latest estimates revealed that there are 340 million coconut trees across the country. However, 10 percent are being lost annually.

"'Yun ay senile at saka unproductive," Andal noted.

The province of Basilan and Isabela City are exempt from the ban because their coconut trees need to be cut due to the infestation of cocolisap. — John Ted Cordero/BM, GMA News