Cocolisap Outbreak Hits Calabarzon

More than 500,000 coconut trees across nine regions in the Philippines have been infested by the destructive coconut scale insect (CSI), the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

The pest, locally known as cocolisap, is a small white or brown insect that attaches itself to the underside of coconut leaves, feeding on their sap and weakening the tree.

PCA Administrator Dexter Buted said the agency has intensified control measures to prevent further spread, particularly in the CALABARZON region, which includes Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces.

“We are conducting cutting operations on infested trees and exposing them to direct sunlight to kill the insects and reduce their population,” Buted told reporters.

The agency is also deploying biological control agents and using organic pesticide solutions, he added.

The pest has been reported in several areas, including MIMAROPA, Bicol, Central and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.

In Quezon province alone, at least 1,000 coconut trees in Barangay Pandan, Real, and 800 trees in Barangay Don Juan Vercelos, San Francisco, have been affected.

“This is a recurring issue, especially during hot and dry conditions, which accelerate the reproduction of cocolisap and facilitate its spread to other regions,” Buted said.

If left unchecked, he warned the outbreak could severely impact coconut production and the industry as a whole.

“These insects drain the nutrients from the trees, leading to yellowing, curling, and drying of leaves, which results in weakened trees and reduced yields,” he said.

Coconut remains a key export commodity for the Philippines.

“Global demand for coconut products is strong, and any production drop will negatively affect copra prices,” he added.

The first major outbreak of cocolisap in the country was recorded in 2011 in Batangas, eventually spreading throughout CALABARZON and causing widespread tree death.