By Perla Lena
ILOILO CITY – Three municipalities in Western Visayas have advanced from the pink (buffer) zone to the yellow (surveillance) zone in the national African swine fever (ASF) classification system, following the successful completion of sentinelling protocols.
According to data from the National ASF Prevention and Control Program, the towns of Banga and Buruanga in Aklan, along with San Jose de Buenavista in Antique, were officially reclassified as yellow zones as of May 5.
Dr. Jonic Natividad, chief of the Department of Agriculture’s Regulatory Division in Western Visayas, said the results were encouraging and pointed to a continuing trend of ASF containment in the region.
“Hopefully, by the end of this month or within the month, there is zone progression from an infected area to the yellow zone by virtue of the result of the sentinel program,” he said in an interview on Friday.
Under the current ASF zoning guidelines, breeder animals are already allowed under the yellow zone, while those in the pink zone are allowed to undergo sentinel surveillance.
The sentinel method involves placing healthy piglets in a previously infected area and monitoring them for any signs of ASF.
So far, 44 local government units in Western Visayas have progressed to pink zone status, Natividad added, noting the continued importance of strict biosecurity measures.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Animal Industry emphasized that surveillance continues amid the Memorandum Circular number 12, series of 2025, released on May 5, waiving the blood testing for avian influenza for the local transport of live poultry, other bird species, eggs, and poultry products from Western Visayas products except for live ducks.
The updated guidelines will facilitate the “unhampered movement of live poultry, other bird species, eggs, poultry products, and by-products, except live ducks coming from regions of the country.” (PNA)
