KALIBO, Aklan – Fifteen towns in the province of Aklan remain under the ‘red zone’ status, based on the latest African Swine Fever (ASF) update.
Two towns are under the ASF pink zone, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) zoning status from February 23 to March 23, 2024 also showed.
DA is implementing the national zoning and movement plan to manage, control, and contain the spread of ASF.
The 15 towns in Aklan still affected by ASF are Kalibo, Numancia, Banga, Balete, Lezo, Makato, Altavas, Tangalan, Batan, Madalag, Ibajay, Malinao, Malay, New Washington, and Nabas.
Buruanga and Libacao are the two ASF-free towns.
The province of Aklan was placed under a state of calamity in May 2023 due to cases of ASF.
Red (infected zone) includes municipalities or cities with confirmed outbreaks of ASF cases, while pink zones serve as a buffer where ASF is not present but is adjacent to a red zone or infected zone.
ASF has its greatest adverse impact on backyard hog raisers, composed of poor and middle-income households. These backyard piggeries provide additional protein in diets, extra income for children’s education, and a safety net for crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic./PN
