ILOILO City – The situation concerning African Swine Fever (ASF) in Panay Island continues to improve as 42 cities and municipalities were upgraded from red zone to the pink zone, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) as of January 31.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, characterized by high mortality rates.
Although it does not pose a threat to human health, ASF severely impacts the pork industry, causing major economic losses due to restrictions on pork movement and the culling of infected animals.
In a memorandum issued by BAI officer-in-charge director Diosamia M. Sevilla on February 4, the following 42 areas were upgraded:
* Aklan (11) – Altavas, Banga, Balete, Batan, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, Numancia, and New Washington
* Antique (4) – Belison, Hamtic, San Jose de Buenavista, and Sibalom
* Capiz (7) – Cuartero, Dao, Dumarao, Maayon, Mambusao, President Roxas, and Roxas City
* Guimaras (2) – Buenavista and Jordan
* Iloilo (17) – Ajuy, Banate, Batad, Barotac Viejo, Concepcion, Dingle, Dumangas, Janiuay, Lambunao, Mina, Leganes, New Lucena, Oton, San Enrique, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Zarraga
* Iloilo City
Meanwhile, the municipality of Buruanga in Aklan was downgraded from the pink zone to the yellow zone.
As of the same date, 25 municipalities across Panay Island remain in the red zone, including:
* Aklan (5) – Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Libacao, and Tangalan
* Capiz (9) – Dumalag, Ivisan, Panay, Panit-an, Pilar, Pontevedra, Sapi-an, Sigma, and Tapaz
* Iloilo (11) – Alimodian, Badiangan, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Carles, Dueñas, Estancia, Maasin, Pototan, San Dionisio, and San Joaquin
The pink zone, or buffer zone, refers to municipalities or cities where ASF has not been detected but are located immediately next to confirmed ASF-affected areas. This classification is designed to prevent the spread of ASF from red zones through heightened biosecurity measures and surveillance efforts.
In red zones, strict prohibitions are enforced on the movement of live pigs, pork products (including fresh/frozen pork and uncooked processed pork products, except for cooked and canned processed pork products), and swine genetic materials to curb the spread of ASF. These restrictions will remain in place until officially lifted.
The yellow (surveillance) zone includes municipalities or cities that have not detected ASF but are adjacent to the pink zones.
According to BAI data, as of January 31, a total of 459 cities and municipalities nationwide have been upgraded from the red to pink zone, while 86 have moved from pink to yellow./PN
