PILI, Camarines Sur -- A recent order by Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala ordering the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Euclides Forbes and PCA Bicol Director Eduardo Allorde stopping the issuance of permits for cutting coconut trees only applies in Albay, DA Bicol Executive Director Jose Dayao said.

Dayao said Alcala’s order to ban the rampant cutting of coconut trees was in response to Albay’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s resolution backing up pronouncements of Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda that the persistent cutting of coconut trees in Albay for commercial lumber had disastrous effects in low-lying municipalities. Recent floods and landslides in the towns of Libon, Jovellar and Polagui due to heavy torrential rains last week are proofs to this.

However, Allorde also made a public statement on Monday in Legazpi City on the radio that there are exceptions to the ban in cutting coco trees in Albay.

He noted that PCA will issue permits in the cutting of old coco trees posing danger to property and coco trees with “cadang-cadang.”

While the ban does not cover the entire Bicol region, Allorde said other provinces may declare also the ban in cutting coco trees if the need arises.