Officials of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in the Bohol have expressed alarm of reports of the sightings of the coconut leaf beetle in the province.

The coconut leaf beetle (brontispa longisima) is a pest that is harmful to the coconut.

PCA authorities said they have monitored the beetle's presence in at least three towns that have affected coconut trees in the said places. These are the towns of Baclayon, Dauis and Alburquerque. In Baclayon, about 800 trees have been afflicted with the pests particularly in barangays Laya and Cambanac. About 50 trees have been affected in Dauis. There are no figures available yet about the beetle intrusion in Bilar. The adult beetle and its larva stay between unopened leaflets of young coconut spears and feed on the soft tissue, causing decay and drying of affected parts, which prevents the tree from bearing fruit. Agriculture and coconut authorities in the province advised coconut farmers to report immediately any sign of the beetle's presence in their respective localities. The onslaught of the brontispa longisima has also alarmed other provinces in the Visayas. The coconut leaf beetle has destroyed coconut trees in some parts of Luzon and is now seen as a threat in the Visayas region. Officials in Western Visayas as well as in Negros Oriental urged the residents to be vigilant considering that coconut is one of the main sources of livelihood in these places. The Bureau of Plant Industry and the PCA have started conducting quarantine checkpoints to prevent the entry of the beetle through the airports and seaports.