Negros Oriental’s Provincial Veterinary Office said Bais City is the latest local government unit to be declared free from African swine fever (ASF) under the pink zone category.
PVO spokesperson Jaymar Vilos said in an interview on Tuesday that Bais City received its recognition of active surveillance for ASF from the Bureau of Animal Industry’s national office last week.
“The recognition was issued last May 21 and will be valid for three months, after which Bais City will have to submit another round of surveillance report for the ASF-free declaration renewal,” Vilos said in mixed English and Cebuano.
Once an LGU is declared ASF-free, it could transport hogs beyond its local borders and outside of the province, provided it complies with requirements set by the BAI, he added.
A recognition of active surveillance is among the requirements for shipping hogs outside the Province, Vilos said.
He said that out of 17 LGUs in Negros Oriental that were hit by ASF, five were upgraded from red zone to pink zone and declared ASF-free.
The four that were earlier declared ASF-free were Vallehermoso, Ayungon, Manjuyod, and Valencia.
A pink zone is a buffer zone where no ASF cases were detected but is adjacent to a red zone with confirmed ASF cases. (Judy F. Partlow)
