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Difference between revisions of "Sarangani News"
→Pacman told to hold his P75-M ‘punch’ on newsman
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==Coco leaf beetles infest farms in 12 towns== | |||
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2012/03/15/coco-leaf-beetles-infest-farms-12-towns-211423 | |||
*Thursday, March 15, 2012 | |||
:by Bong S. Sarmiento | |||
KORONADAL CITY -- Coconut leaf beetles are threatening coconut farms in Central Mindanao or the Soccsksargen Region, as they already infested at least 12 towns in the region's four provinces, officials said Thursday. | |||
Amalia J. Datukan, Department of Agriculture (DA)-Soccsksargen director, said the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) have noted the rapid Brontispa longissima infestation in parts of the region. | |||
"Brontispa infestation has been observed to be quickly increasing in the region, particularly in the town of Malungon in Sarangani," Datukan said. | |||
Malungon has vast mango plantations, and because of regular chemical sprayings, parasitoids used to address the Brontispa infestation could not thrive, she explained, citing a report from the Sarangani Integrated Pest Management office. | |||
Brontispa or coconut leaf beetle feed on young leaves and damages seedlings and mature coconut palms. This insect belongs to the order Coleoptera and Chrysomelidae family along with a number of beetle species. | |||
Citing a PCA report, Datukan identified the towns infested with Brontispa as Tampakan, Tupi, Polomolok and Koronadal City in South Cotabato and Libungan, Midsayap, Antipas and Kidapawan in North Cotabato. | |||
The others are Malungon and Glan in Sarangani and Lutayan and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat. | |||
Glan, touted as the "Coconut Queen of the South," is one of the largest coconut producing towns in the region. | |||
Elvira de Silva, PCA regional manager, said there is a need to establish more parasitoid laboratories to address the Brontispa infestation, especially in areas close to towns that have been infested. | |||
Parasitoids are organisms that ultimately sterilize and consume the host, and are similar to typical parasites, the DA said. | |||
In North Cotabato, where 2.71 percent of the total coconut trees have been infested by Brontispa, the PCA has set up six parasitoid laboratories, de Silva said. | |||
But other than Brontispa, North Cotabato farmers feared that Asiatic palm weevil could infest their crops, the DA regional office said. | |||
Asiatic palm weevil (Rhabdoscelus lineatocollis (Heller)) is a newly discovered coconut pest that damages the stems, reduces yield, or kills seedlings and young palms. | |||
In Malungon, Sarangani, coconut farmers are using chemicals and the cut-and-burn method to address the Brontispa infestation. | |||
The Sarangani agriculture office said the cut-and-burn method could be an effective way to stem the spread of brontispa to other towns. | |||
It has likewise recommended the establishment of parasitoid laboratories in the towns of Maitum, Kiamba and Maasim, which remained free of Brontispa. | |||
Datukan said the RCPC, which is attached to the DA, has been culturing parasitoids to help eradicate the Brontispa problem. | |||
==Pacman told to hold his P75-M ‘punch’ on newsman== | ==Pacman told to hold his P75-M ‘punch’ on newsman== | ||
*Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/19144-pacman-told-to-hold-his-p75-m-punch-on-newsman | *Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/19144-pacman-told-to-hold-his-p75-m-punch-on-newsman | ||
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According to CenterLaw, free expression advocacy groups see the UNHRC’s pronouncement in the Alex Adonis case as a landmark holding, as it was the very first declaration by the human rights body on the incompatibility of criminal libel laws with the right of free expression. | According to CenterLaw, free expression advocacy groups see the UNHRC’s pronouncement in the Alex Adonis case as a landmark holding, as it was the very first declaration by the human rights body on the incompatibility of criminal libel laws with the right of free expression. | ||
==29 NPA rebels yield in Sarangani in two months== | ==29 NPA rebels yield in Sarangani in two months== | ||