42 Western Visayas LGUs downgraded to ASF pink zone

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Forty-two municipalities and cities in Western Visayas have been reclassified from Red (Infected) Zone to Pink (Buffer) Zone under the latest African swine fever zoning update released in January 2026.

Under ASF protocols, Red Zones refer to areas with confirmed active ASF cases, where hog movement is prohibited and quarantine and culling measures are enforced.

Pink Zones, also known as Buffer Zones, are areas adjacent to infected locations with no active cases but that remain under regulated animal movement and heightened surveillance.

In Iloilo province, the local government units reclassified to Pink Zone are Barotac Viejo, Batad, Concepcion, Dingle, Dumangas, Estancia, Iloilo City, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, San Enrique, San Miguel, Santa Barbara and Zarraga.

In Capiz, the LGUs reclassified to Pink Zone include Cuartero, Dao, Dumalag, Maayon, Mambusao, Pontevedra, President Roxas, Roxas City, Sigma and Tapaz.

In Antique, Belison, Hamtic and Sibalom were reclassified to Pink Zone, while Altavas, Batan, Libacao, Makato, Malay, Numancia and Tangalan were reclassified in Aklan.

Meanwhile, eight LGUs in the region were upgraded from Pink Zone to Yellow (Surveillance) Zone.

These include Banga, Balete, Buruanga, Madalag, Malinao, Nabas and New Washington in Aklan, and San Jose de Buenavista in Antique.

Yellow Zones refer to areas with no active ASF cases but that remain under surveillance due to their proximity to previously infected locations.

Nationwide, 547 cities and municipalities were upgraded from Red Zone to Pink Zone, while 120 LGUs were upgraded from Pink Zone to Yellow Zone, based on the same report.

The updated zoning status took effect Jan. 1, based on data as of Jan. 16, in accordance with the Amended National ASF Zoning and Movement Plan under Department of Agriculture Administrative Circular No. 2, Series of 2022.

African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, with severe economic impact on the hog industry, although it poses no risk to human health.