PCA 7 Hastens Clean Up of Coconut Debris in North Cebu

Six months after super Typhoon Yolanda battered north Cebu, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-7 admitted that the clean up operation for fallen coconut tree is slow, and said that they are now tapping farmers in affected localities to help speed up the clearing operations.

PCA-7 Regional Manager Dennis Andres said cutting fallen coconut trees in the debris clean-up drive needs special skills in chainsaw operations, which is far and few as most have been deployed to Eastern Samar, which incurred the heaviest damage in coconut plantation.

Andres said 179,000 coconut trees have been destroyed in the aftermath of Yolanda in northern Cebu but as of mid-May, only 16,000 coconut trees have been cleared or roughly about 10 percent.

“We have already deployed 36 chainsaws to north Cebu to hasten debris clean-up operations but the problem is the lack of skilled chainsaw operators to handle the equipment as this needs specialized skills,” said Andres.

He also said of the 36 chainsaws, 23 have been sent to Bantayan Island, four in San Remigio, three in Pilar, Camotes Island and the rest in the other storm-ravaged areas.

To address the problem, Andres said they are now training coconut farmers in the typhoon-hit areas on chainsaw operations.

“So far, we have trained about 176 farmers to help us fast track in the debris clearing,” he said.

Andres said most of the chainsaw operators have been hired to help in Eastern Samar where a total of 33 million coconut trees have been destroyed.

The PCA-7 official said the damaged coconut trees would be cut in a way that could be used for lumber to rebuild back the houses of coconut farmers. “We have relaxed our rule on the need for a tree-cutting permit in the typhoon-hit areas,” Andres said.

Under the law, a permit is required from the PCA before cutting coconut trees.

Andres said with more farmers trained in chainsaw operations, he debris clearing would be completed within the year.

The trained farmers also benefited from the PCA’s Cash-for-Work Program where, as trained chainsaw operator, each farmers would receive P400 a day. He said the assistance, however, did not stop there.

“Each chainsaw operator needs two helping hands which usually is a member of the farmer’s family or a relative. Each helper is paid P300 a day,” said Andres.

An amount of P1.2 million has already been allocated for the temporary livelihood program, he said adding that those involved in the debris clearing are given safety gears such as hard hat and goggles.

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