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WHEREAS, coconut is a major source of livelihood in 68 of the 79 provinces of the country;

WHEREAS, the Philippines has earned the niche as the top supplier of coconut products and by products in the world market contributing an estimated $ 800 million net foreign earnings to sustain the economic lives of some 3.5 million coconut farmers and their families;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Coconut Authority is the government agency mandated to oversee the development of the coconut industry in all its aspects and ensure that such development redound to the interests of the coconut farmers;

WHEREAS,  the Coconut leaf Beetle (Brontispa Longissima Gestro) an invasive pest from Southeast Asia has found its way to the Philippines and is now considered as one of the most destructive pests of the coconut and ornamental palm thereby posing a grave threat to the vital coconut industry of the country if not properly controlled;

WHEREAS, to ensure the preservation and development of the coconut industry, there is a need to declare the implementation of emergency measures to control and eradicate the spread of Brontispa and designate the Philippine Coconut Authority as the lead agency for the purpose;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law do hereby order:

SECTION 1. LEAD AGENCY. The Philippine Coconut Authority shall be the lead agency in implementing emergency measures to control and eradicate Brontispa in the country. For this purpose, the PCA shall prescribe the necessary rules and regulations for its immediate and effective implementation.

SECTION 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PCA. The PCA in order to effectively implement emergency measures can request the assistance of any local government unit or government agency to monitor and ensure compliance with the established emergency measures. For this purpose, the PCA may deputize the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement offices to investigate and apprehend those caught violating the emergency measures including confiscation of coconut seednuts or seedlings. Specifically:

1. the PCA in coordination with the BPI shall establish such number of quarantine stations and designate roving inspectors and patrols to (i) monitor and report the extent of damage of Brontispa, (ii) the transport and movement of coconut planting materials and determine whether such activities are strictly complying with the pertinent requirements of laws, rules and regulations; (iii) inspect and inquire into the proper establishment, operations and registration of coconut seed nurseries and other persons or entities dealing with the transport and sale of coconut planting materials and to report their findings to the PCA with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) which in turn shall coordinate and render assistance to the implementation of safety measures particularly in the strict implementation of quarantine rules and regulations.

SECTION 3. PROHIBITIONS - Consistent with the guiding policies, no coconut planting materials be it seednuts or seedlings including any other palm specie shall be allowed to enter by land, or in any port or by air in the territorial jurisdiction of the country except in the following cases and only when a permit has been issued therefore:

a. the source of the planting materials has been accredited by the PCA in the case of coconut and BPI in case of ornamental palms;

b. the transport of seednuts or seedlings should be supported by a Permit to Transport issued by the duly authorized personnel of the PCA stating among others that appropriate preventive measures such as spraying of appropriate chemicals has been instituted.

SECTION 4. AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT - The PCA shall have the exclusive authority to grant Permit to Transport for the shipment or movement of coconut planting materials from and to any points of the country.

SECTION 5. RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS - The LGUs shall assist in the local implementation of the emergency measures by extending appropriate resources for vigorous information campaigns, issuance of appropriate ordinances, resolutions and other relevant orders as well as recruitment of volunteers;

SECTION 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES - Those found of violating the provisions of the established emergency measures shall be punished by:

a. First offense – confiscation of illegally transported planting materials or the proper treatment of the pests including the conveyance used at the expense of the shipper/ owner of the planting materials;

b. Second offense – in addition to the confiscation of the planting materials, any violator should pay in the form of a fine in the amount of Five Hundred pesos (P500.00) per seednut/seedling material illegally transported.

c. Third and subsequent offenses – the confiscation of the plants and the payment of fine in the amount of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) per planting material illegally transported.

The responsible PCA official found to have permitted, allowed or otherwise tolerated any violations of the provision of the emergency measures or its implementing rules or have connive or conspired shall be suspended or dismissed from office in accordance with the disciplinary provisions of the Administrative Code of 1987.

SECTION 7. SUPPORT FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS -  The Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Coconut Authority shall allocate sufficient funds to support the implementation of emergency measures to control and eradicate Brontispa including the establishment of quarantine units and teams of inspectors and patrols organized pursuant to the established emergency measures and implementation of an effective public information dissemination campaign.

SECTION 8. IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES -  The PCA shall adopt such implementing guidelines as maybe necessary to implement this Executive Order.

SECTION 9. EFFECTIVITY -  This executive order shall take effect immediately after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 25 Sept. 2007