WHEREAS, it has been reported and verified that Coconut Leaf Beetle, Brontispa longissima is now present in other areas other than those mentioned in BPI Special Quarantine Order No. 03, Series of 2005;

WHEREAS, it is reported to be present in Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Aurora, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Rizal, Southern Palawan, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Aklan, Guimaras, Bohol, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Zamboanga, Bukidnon, and Davao;

WHEREAS, the coconut industry continues to contribute to the Philippine economy an estimated 800 Million USD annually;

WHEREAS, surveys confirmed that B. longissima develops and inflicts damage in coconut and other native as well as exotic ornamental palms;

WHEREAS, if the spread of this invasive pest is not regulated and contained, it may virtually wipe out the coconut industry in the country;

WHEREAS, it is necessary that quarantine measures be strengthened to arrest and prevent spread of the pest to non-infested areas of the country.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in the Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry by P.D. 1433, otherwise known as the Plant Quarantine Decree of 1978, this Special Order is hereby promulgated as follows:

SECTION 1. The Coconut Leaf Beetle (Brontispa longissima) is hereby declared an injurious and invasive pest of coconut.

SECTION  2. Metro Manila and provinces of Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Aurora, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Rizal, Southern Palawan, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Aklan, Guimaras, Bohol, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Zamboanga, Bukidnon, and Davao  are hereby declared infested with Coconut Leaf Beetle and are hereby placed under quarantine;

SECTION  3. The movement/transfer/carrying of any palm seedlings, plants and germinated seednuts including fronds from infested areas to non-infested areas is strictly prohibited.

SECTION 4. A special Permit to Transport may be granted by the BPI Director from non-infested areas after complying with strict quarantine measures that include quarantine in contained facility.

SECTION 5. Importation of palm seedlings, plants, and germinated seednuts from countries with known and reported infestation of B. longissima in Guangdong Province of Mainland China, Hainan Islands, Hongkong and Taiwan ROC, Maldives, parts of Southeast Asia, namely: Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam; and parts of Oceania, namely: American Samoa, French Polynesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa and Queensland and Northern Territory of Australia is strictly prohibited.  Importation from countries that are still known to be free from Coconut Leaf Beetle may still be allowed after complying with strict quarantine measures.

SECTION  6. In order to carry out the effective quarantine and control measures against the spread of Coconut Leaf Beetle, the Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry, in accordance with Section 16 of P.D. 1433, and in coordination with BAT, may ask the national, provincial, municipal and barangay officials, the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to assists in the implementation/enforcement of such promulgated quarantine measures in order to contain, prevent and spread and ultimately eradicate the said pest.

SECTION 7.  All companies engaged in land, water or air transportation shall assist/cooperate with the Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry or his authorized rep- resentatives in the strict enforcement of the provisions of this Order pursuant to Section 6, Rule VI of BPI Quarantine Administrative Order No.1 Series of 1981 by not allowing or accepting shipments, conveying or shipping palm seedlings, plants and germinated seednuts from infested areas to non-infested areas.

SECTION 8. Any person who violates the provision of this Order or forges, counterfeits, alters, defaces or destroys any document issued by virtue thereof, shall be fined as prescribed by existing laws.

SECTION 9. This order shall supersede and/or revoke orders inconsistent herewith and shall take effect fifteen (15) days after public publication in Official Gazette and/or a newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 25 Sept. 2007