ILOILO City – Fifteen municipalities in Western Visayas remain under the red zone classification for African Swine Fever (ASF), with nine of them in Iloilo province, according to the latest zoning status released by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), underscoring the continuing threat of the highly contagious livestock disease across the region.
Based on the DA-BAI’s zoning update as of June 19, 2026, the affected local government units are Lezo in Aklan; Ivisan, Pan-ay, Panit-an, Roxas City, and Sapian in Capiz; and Alimodian, Badiangan, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Carles, Dueñas, Maasin, Pototan, and San Dionisio in Iloilo.
The list, however, does not yet include Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, where an ASF case was confirmed only on June 30, as the municipality was not among the new ASF-affected areas reported to the DA-BAI during the June 6 to 19 reporting period.
ASF is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It does not infect humans, but it is highly fatal to pigs and can devastate backyard and commercial hog farms.
Under the red zone classification, authorities strictly prohibit the movement of live pigs, pork and pork products — including fresh, frozen, and uncooked processed pork products — as well as swine genetic materials to prevent the further spread of ASF.
Only cooked and canned processed pork products are exempted from the restrictions, which remain in force until officially lifted.
ASF may cause high fever, weakness, loss of appetite, red or blotchy skin, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, abortion in pregnant sows, sudden death, and mass pig deaths.
The virus can spread through direct contact with infected pigs or carcasses; feeding pigs with contaminated food scraps; exposure to infected pork products; and contaminated clothing, footwear, vehicles, farm tools, slaughterhouse equipment, and transport cages.
Authorities said strict biosecurity remains the most effective protection, including limiting visitors, disinfecting facilities and vehicles, avoiding swill feeding, isolating sick pigs, reporting suspicious deaths, and securing proper transport documents.
The DA-BAI thus also updated the zoning classifications for other municipalities and cities across Western Visayas.
In Aklan, eight municipalities — Balete, Banga, Batan, Buruanga, Madalag, Malinao, Nabas, and New Washington — are under the yellow (surveillance) zone, while Altavas, Ibajay, Kalibo, Libacao, Makato, Malay, Numancia, and Tangalan are under the pink (buffer) zone.
In Antique, Anini-y, Bugasong, San Jose de Buenavista, and Valderrama are classified as yellow zones; Belison, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, Patnongon, San Remigio, and Sibalom as pink zones; Lauan as a light green (protected) zone; and Caluya, Culasi, Barbaza, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, and Tibiao as dark green (free) zones.
In Guimaras, Nueva Valencia is under the yellow zone, while Buenavista, Jordan, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag are under the pink zone.
In Capiz, the municipalities of Cuartero, Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, Jamindan, Maayon, Mambusao, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, Sigma, and Tapaz are all classified under the pink zone.
In Iloilo, the municipalities of Ajuy, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Cabatuan, Calinog, Concepcion, Dingle, Dumangas, Estancia, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, Lemery, Leon, Miag-ao, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, Passi City, Pavia, San Enrique, San Joaquin, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Sara, Tigbauan, and Zarraga, as well as Iloilo City, are under the pink zone, while Bingawan, Guimbal, Igbaras, and Tubungan are under the yellow zone.
The DA-BAI explained that the pink zone, or buffer zone, covers municipalities and cities where ASF has not been detected but are immediately adjacent to infected areas, with intensified biosecurity and surveillance measures aimed at preventing the disease from spreading. Meanwhile, the yellow zone includes municipalities and cities where ASF has not been detected but are adjacent to buffer zones./PN
