• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
While 11 local government units in Negros Occidental have been included in the list of areas that are no longer affected by African swine fever (ASF), the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) remains vigilant in monitoring those LGUs to ensure there will be no recurrence of the virus.
The Department of Agriculture has classified cities of Bacolod, Escalante, Kabankalan, San Carlos, Silay, and Victorias, as well as the towns of Hinigaran, La Castellana, Pulupandan, San Enrique, and Valladolid, as 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 for the sentineling program of the DA, to determine after 40 days if the virus is present among the “sentinel piglets” provided to local government units.
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.
Other areas in the NIR that are no longer affected by ASF are Ayungon, Bais, Manjuyod, Valencia, and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental.
Bacolod and Escalante were among areas classified under the red or infected zone that were recently downgraded to pink.
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 Department of Agriculture (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.*
