The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has declared a moratorium on banning the cutting of coconut trees for three (3) months, starting January 3, 2017;
but this excludes the province of Basilan, and Isabella City; because there is an ongoing Coconut Scale Insect (cocolisap) issue.
The ban is meant to help preserve and conserve coconut trees in the country.
photo credit: Coco Media
PCA Administrator, Billy Andal, said in a report, “We have to impose a moratorium because Republic Act 8048 is not effectively enforced. It is as if the coco loggers are just making fun of us; they are not taking it seriously. I think it is time to put my foot down on this issue.”
…
Yes, I think it is about time. Coconut tree grows abundantly in the Philippines. It is a very good source of income for the farmers. Everything from a coconut tree, its fruits (meat and water), the shells and husks, the leaves, the tree trunks, are all useful; nothing is thrown away. It is called a tree of life.
So, there is no cutting of the coconut trees for the first 3 months of the year !!
But we can still eat the delicious coconuts, especially when it is freshly picked from our backyards . . . !!!
Source: MSN news; January 4, 2017...
