• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
While 11 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have already been included in the list of areas that are no longer affected by African swine fever (ASF), the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) remains vigilant to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the virus.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has classified the cities of Bacolod, Escalante, Kabankalan, San Carlos, Silay and Victorias as well as the towns of Hinigaran, La Castellana, Pulupandan, San Enrique and Valladolid under the pink zones.
Pink zones are areas with no current ASF infections, but are considered high-risk due to their proximity to infected zones.
Areas classified under the pink zone have to apply first for the sentineling program of the DA to determine after 40 days if the virus is present among “sentinel piglets” provided to LGUs.
Dr. Yasmin Tan, PVO officer-in-charge for Research and Laboratory Services Division, said the 11 LGUs downgraded to pink and categorized by the DA as ASF-free are still in the sentineling phase.
In Executive Order 11-2025, dated June 2, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez officially declared Bacolod City free from ASF.
“The declaration will signify the City of Bacolod’s achievements in disease control efforts, bringing economic stability and consumer confidence in (its) pork production industry,” Benitez said.
He noted that the DA-Western Visayas endorsed the city’s upgrade from an infected zone (red) to a buffer zone (pink) after evaluating the compliance of the CVO with the national guidelines on ASF recovery.
“I commend the City Veterinary Office and the local ASF Task Force for their dedication and swift action in restoring the city’s ASF-free status,” the mayor said. | GB
