CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– Just hours after stopping the sale of rice outside of his province, Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. reversed course and lifted the ban.
Zubiri admitted that the ban was instituted so that the provincial government would meet its target buffer of 100,000 bags of rice for free distribution to constituents for the duration of the health crisis spawned by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Zubiri earlier said only 40,000 bags were purchased, short by 60,000 bags.
In lifting the ban, Zubiri said local rice suppliers have already committed to provide the provincial government with the volume of rice it needed.
Zubiri has ordered the province sealed off from nonresidents and visitors as a heightened precaution against the spread of the virus.
He admitted that such measure “limits the necessary resources particularly rice grains/ rice available to the people of the province.”