Palawan celebrates ASF-free status in Magsaysay and across the Province

The Provincial Government welcomed reports that the town of Magsaysay and the entire province of Palawan remain in the “Dark Green Zone” that signifies freedom from the African Swine Fever (ASF) threat.

This development follows the receipt of a letter from Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) Director Paul C. Limson endorsing the request of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) to maintain the “Dark Green Zone” status for Magsaysay and the whole of Palawan.

This decision was based on the isolated nature of the ASF case in Barangay Cocoro in Magsaysay, which was promptly contained through stringent measures to prevent its spread to other parts of the island.

The DA-BAI had confirmed on August 24, that ASF was the cause of the nearly 300 pig deaths on Cocoro Island, Magsaysay.

The DA-BAI expressed appreciation to the Provincial Government of Palawan, led by the Provincial Veterinary Office under Dr. Darius Mangcucang, and the LGUs, along with the DA Regional Field Office IV-B, for their prompt actions to prevent the spread of ASF to other parts of Palawan.

Meanwhile, the color coding of zones aids in assessing the level of ASF virus contamination in an area. The Dark Green Zone or Free Zone includes cities or municipalities with no ASF cases, while the Light Green Zone or Protected Zone covers areas with no ASF cases but with some risk due to proximity to the Yellow Zone.

The Pink Zone or Buffer Zone includes cities or towns adjacent to the Red Zone, while the Yellow Zone or Surveillance Zone comprises areas with high risk due to a significant pig population and a large number of pig sellers, processors, and the Red Zone, which includes areas with confirmed ASF cases.

In connection with this, the PVO continues to remind the public to follow established measures to prevent the entry of various animal diseases into the province.

This includes avoiding the purchase of online meat products and refraining from feeding pigs with swill, which may be contaminated with the virus that can potentially infect domestic pigs.