Davao City is now eyeing a green zone status from African Swine Fever (ASF) virus.
Dr. Gay Pallar, focal person on ASF of the City Veterinary Office (CVO), said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is now processing their request to change the zoning color of Davao City from a red zone to a yellow zone and eventually a green zone.
Two years ago, cases of ASF were detected in the five barangays in the city’s three districts namely Inayangan, Lamanan, Dominga of Calinan District; Barangay Magsaysay of Marilog District; and Barangay Colosas of Paquibato District.
The DA has categorized the containment zone into four zones depending on the area’s ASF status: red (infected zone), yellow (surveillance zone), pink (buffer zone), and light green (protected zone).
“Karon sa syudad sa Davao no reported cases of swine mortality na and proud to say na ang atoang syudad on process na ang atoang change of zoning color from red to yellow. Gi process na sa DA ang atoang request for change of zoning color. From red color puhon kung muabot na ang approval from the national office mahimo ng yellow zone ang Davao City,” Pallar said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Friday.
Pallar said the city is aiming for green zone status to declare Davao City as ASF-free and she is optimistic that a green zone will be implemented in Davao City as they are now intensifying their surveillance and monitoring of the swine population in Davao City.
She said they already submitted more than 1,000 pages of the document to the DA and according to her, the DA national office has promised to assign Davao City as a yellow zone.
“Yellow zone duol nata sa green zone para ASF-free na. Duol nata sa tinuod kay red man ta sa uban nato na barangays, supposedly pink unta to pero i-derecho ta ug yellow. After makuha na nato ang yellow color zoning after a month magpasa na pud ta ug atong surveillance weekly report sa swine population sa Davao City and mag request na pud ta ug green zone, which is ASF-free,” she said.
She added that they are also intensifying their surveillance at the city’s entry points and disease monitoring.
It can be recalled that during the ASF outbreak in Davao City, a budget of P27 million for local farmers’ assistance was approved.
