• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Eleven towns and cities in Negros Island Region have been classified as “pink zones” by the Department of Agriculture National African Swine Fever Prevention and Control Program.
They are cities of Kabankalan, San Carlos, Silay, Victorias, and Hinigaran, and the municipalities of La Castellana, Pulupandan, and Valladolid in Negros Occidental, as well as Ayungon, Bais City, and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental.
Sagay City in Negros Occidental was the only local government unit (LGU) in the NIR that is classified in the yellow zone, it added.
The Department of Agriculture said that pink zones are near ASF infected areas, yellow zones are deemed high risk areas, light green zones have no cases but are near yellow zones, and dark green zones are ASF free.
Provincial Veterinarian Placeda Lemana disclosed that Escalante City is still under the process to be reclassified as a pink zone.
Lemana also said that Negros Occidental does not follow the ASF zoning of the DA, as they allow farmers to proceed with sentineling if they comply with the biosecurity measures set by the PVO.
If they comply with the biosecurity level 1 requirements, they can sentinel, restock, and repopulate their pigs, she added.*