The province of Romblon is ready to declare an African swine fever (ASF)-free status, according to the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian on Friday.
“Currently, the Department of Agriculture has partially upgraded our status, and is moving us from the pink zone to the green zone,” said Dr. Paul Miñano of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.
The ASF zoning system classifies areas based on their ASF status. The pink zone refers to areas transitioning from ASF-infected to ASF-free, where surveillance and testing are intensified to ensure the absence of the virus. The green zone refers to areas that are considered free from ASF and have met stringent requirements and testing to ensure that no ASF virus is present.
Dr. Miñano, one of the panelists at the Bagong Pilipinas-Dagyaw Town Hall meeting held in Odiongan, Romblon, elaborated on the province’s status.
“Totally, there is no ASF in the province, although it has not yet been officially declared by the DA,” Miñano added.
For the post-ASF programs of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, Miñano said that their office will initiate the repopulation of pigs in areas previously affected by the disease.
According to the latest data from their office, gathered from Municipal Agriculturists, the swine population in the entire province is now approximately 34,000.
The first case of ASF in the province was recorded in October of the previous year, resulting in the death and depopulation of more than 5,000 swine.
