BUREAU of Customs agents confiscated about 40,000 partially de-husked coconuts at the Ormoc port in the morning of Oct. 5, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Regional Director Edilberto Nieva reported. Valued at P400,000, the coconuts were loaded on two 10-wheeler trucks.
The cargo was seized after the drivers failed to present a transport permit. The drivers are identified as Julimar Geroquia, 27 of Dumaguete and Alejandro Geslaga, 50 of Mandaue. They were placed in custody at the PCA regional office as they await for the trucks’ owner Rowen Remedio of Carigara town.
The coconuts came from Julita town and were to be transported to Cebu. Nieva said Remedio’s offense pertains to EO 664 establishing emergency measures to control the spread of brontispa (coconut leaf beatle) disease. A transport permit is required to monitor coconuts or seedlings that may be carriers of brontispa. Partially de-husked nuts are capable of germinating during long travels.
Aside from monitoring brontispa, Nieva said they are also preventing smuggling of coconuts after receiving reports these are being shipped to China. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala ordered that the movement of coconuts outside the country be monitored.
(Issue of Oct. 3-9, 2011)
No comments:
Post a Comment