Four more local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental in the Philippines are upgrading to the African swine fever (ASF) pink zone, which will allow them to transport pigs to other provinces, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said.
PVO information officer Jaymar Vilos told the Philippine News Agency that the municipalities of Amlan, Tanjay City, Dauin and Zamboanguita are completing the requirements for upgrading their ASF zone status.
A pink zone is a buffer zone where there are no ASF cases, but the LGU must implement strict biosecurity and surveillance activities to prevent outbreaks. In pink zones, farmers are allowed to raise pigs but on a staggered basis under the Department of Agriculture’s sentinel program, where repopulation is controlled and regulated.
This brings the total number of LGUs that have already upgraded their buffer zone status to seven. Three other LGUs (Valencia, Manjuyod, and Bais City) have been elevated to the yellow zone (surveillance), although Bais City still needs to comply with additional requirements.
Mr Vilos urged the remaining LGUs to apply for an upgrade so they can avail of government benefits like indemnification for culled pigs and the National Livestock Program repopulation grant.
“Pig farmers’ associations in LGUs who have upgraded will receive farm stocks and inputs to revive their livelihoods,” he said, adding that Amlan was recently granted the repopulation grant.
Mr Vilos believes some LGUs may not be applying for the upgrade due to tedious requirements or because they have no markets outside the province and are content selling their pigs or pork locally.
ASF resurfaces in Cagayan
In another development, a local media reported two pigs owned by a pig raiser in Centro 2, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan province in Northern Philippines died and later tested positive ASF. The pigs died on August 13, 2025.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, this was the first reported case of ASF in the province since 2021.
The Municipal Agriculture Office of Sanchez Mira has started monitoring and surveillance of backyard pigs to control the possible spread of the virus.