Around 200,000 coconut trees have been attacked by coconut scale insects or "cocolisap" in Zamboanga Peninsula, according to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-Zamboanga.

The PCA said several areas in Zamboanga City and Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte have been affected by cocolisap infestation.

Cocolisap kills coconut trees by consuming the tree's nutrients and they spread quickly during hot weather condition like El Niño phenomenon, the PCA added.

“Mupaspas gyud, favorable ang weather condition,mao na siyay time nga pwede sya, paspas ang pag spread, pero nagpasalamat ta sa mga area nga tag as nga lugar diri sa Zamboanga City kanunay ang ulan nakatabang pud na sa amua,” Provincial Coconut Development Manager Arsenio Laput said.

The PCA has conducted massive pruning to prevent cocolisap from spreading. The agency is also raising more telsimia, a kind of insect that eats cocolisap.

“Based sa mga entomologist nato, mao na siyay ilang nakita sa field nga mukaon anang maong cocolisap , mao na atong gipadaghan diri sa laboratory,” Laput added.

Farmers are urged to report to PCA once cocolisap are sighted in coconut trees.