Zamboanga City along with the 394 other cities and municipalities nationwide has been upgraded from Red (Infected) Zone to Pink (Buffer) Zone in the latest African Swine Flu (ASF) Zoning Map and Zoning Status as of Nov. 7, this year, pursuant to the Amended National Zoning and Movement Plan for the Prevention and Control of ASF of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI).

In a memorandum dated Nov. 7, 2023, DA-BAI Director Paul C. Limson furnished all concerned local government units with the updated Zoning Map and Zoning Status of each city/municipality categorized according to the zoning plan, covering new ASF affected areas reported to the DA-BAI from Oct. 4 to Nov. 7, 2023.

Under the said memorandum, 395 cities, including Zamboanga City, and municipalities have been upgraded from Red to Pink Zone, and 72 others elevated from Pink to Yellow.

In Region 9, the Pink Zones are Zamboanga City and the municipalities of Katipunan, La Libertad, Mutia, Polanco, Rizal, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Sibutad, Sirawai and Baliguian, all in Zamboanga del Norte; Aurora, Mahayag, Molave, Tambulig, Tukuran, Sominot, all in Zamboanga del Sur;  Malangas, Naga, Titay and Tungawan, all in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The Red Zones are Dapitan City, Dipolog City, the towns of Piñan, Sibuco and Siocon, all in Zamboanga del Norte; Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur; Alicia, Buug, Diplahan, Imelda, Ipil, Kabasalan, Payao, Roseller Lim and Siay, all in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The rest of the region are either Dark Green/Free Zone or Yellow/Surveillance Zone, according to the latest ASF watch.

Earlier on, around 130 sentinel pigs from the [DA] were distributed to the ASF-hit barangays in the city, they were closely monitored for 40 days, and apparently all had survived. Hence, blood testing was done again to these pigs, and they tested negative for the ASF virus.

To recall, Zamboanga City had been declared under “Red Zone” since the ASF outbreak in 2022.

The number of hog mortalities totaled 4,655, with 1,122 culled due to ASF, while the number of affected raisers was placed at 1,098 spanning to 34 barangays under the seven Veterinary Districts.

The affected hog raisers were given orientation and their pigpens were ordered cleaned and disinfected as they await the distribution of sentinel pigs by the DA, the city government said.-[Vic Larato]