MANILA, Philippines – Newly installed Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) administrator Avelino Andal has promised to address the problem on cocolisap, a pest that is preventing coconut trees from bearing fruit, in Basilan province.
Andal was sworn in yesterday as the new PCA head by Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. in a simple ceremony at the Malacañang Palace.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Andal, a former Quezon provincial board member, last Nov. 8.
“I promised to advance the interest of coconut farmers in the country,” Andal said after the oath-taking ceremony, stressing he would first address the problem in Basilan where thousands of coconut trees were cut because of cocolisap infestation.
On the issue of distributing the coco levy fund back to its contributors, he said the issue would need to be discussed with Congress.
The fund is estimated to have ballooned to between P100 billion to P150 billion in assets.
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It became a controversy in the ‘80s after allegations that former president Ferdinand Marcos, businessman Danding Cojuangco, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and several other cronies conspired to tax coconut farmers, promising them the development of the coconut industry and a share in the investments.
The money was reportedly used to buy the United Coconut Planters’ Bank and some shares of San Miguel Corp.
Andal said that since the Supreme Court has already ruled on the issue, he would look into the possibility of using the funds to assist farmers in organizing themselves, helping them develop agriculture-related enterprises that would eventually improve their lives.
