Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur among areas that have recovered from ASF

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur are among the provinces that have recovered from African swine fever (ASF), marking progress in efforts to revive the local hog industry.

The provinces have moved all their ASF-affected areas from red (infected) zones to pink (buffer) or yellow (surveillance) zones, according to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI).

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), through its National ASF Prevention and Control Program, identified the provinces in Bulletin No. 2026-19, which listed areas that had achieved improved classifications as of October.

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Under the government’s ASF zoning system, red zones are areas with confirmed ASF outbreaks. Pink zones are areas where the virus has not been detected but are immediately around infected areas and serve as buffers to prevent the disease from spreading.

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Yellow zones, meanwhile, are areas where ASF has not been detected but are adjacent to pink zones. These are classified as high-risk surveillance areas because of their proximity to areas previously or currently affected by the disease.

The improved classifications indicate that the listed provinces have moved beyond infected-zone status, although continued monitoring and strict biosecurity measures remain necessary.

ASF outbreaks in previous years severely affected the country’s hog industry, resulting in livestock losses and disruptions in pork production and supply.

Hog raisers and local authorities were urged to maintain strict farm biosecurity, regulate the movement of live pigs and pork products, and promptly report suspected ASF cases. /mcm