Eleven local government units (LGUs) in Negros Island Region (NIR) are now classified as pink zones for African swine fever (ASF), based on data from the National ASF Prevention and Control Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The LGUs classified as pink zones are Negros Occidental cities of Kabankalan, San Carlos, Silay, and Victorias, as well as the towns of Hinigaran, La Castellana and Pulupandan.

Bais City and the municipalities of Valladolid, Ayungon and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental are also categorized as pink zones.

Sagay City is the only locality in NIR that is in the yellow zone, it added.

Provincial veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana said Escalante City is still in the process to be reclassified as a pink zone.

Lemana added that Negros Occidental does not follow the DA’s ASF zoning as they allow farmers to conduct hog sentinelling if they comply with the biosecurity measures set by the Provincial Veterinary Office.

If they comply with the biosecurity level 1 requirements, they can sentinel, restock and repopulate their hogs, she said.

The DA said pink zones mean a certain area is considered “safe from ASF due to standard safety requirements complied by the LGU.”

Yellow zones are deemed high-risk areas from ASF, the agency said.

Earlier, Lemana said prices of pork remained high in the first quarter of the year due to high demand and unstable supply following the holiday season.

Pork prices are still at P380 per kilo, she added.

Lemana said raisers in the province are conducting hog sentinelling following an ASF outbreak in 2023./WDJ