BUKIDNON Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr. flip-flopped on his order to prohibit the selling of rice outside his province. He lifted the order on the same day.
This afternoon, Zubiri signed Executive Order 18-A, “an order lifting the implementation of Executive Order No. 18 entitled: An order prohibiting all rice producers, traders, and suppliers from selling or delivering rice grains outside the province of Bukidnon.”
Zubiri said his second order came after rice suppliers in Bukidnon committed to supplying the province with 100,000 bags of rice.
“The provincial Covid-10 Task Force and other law enforcement agencies are enjoined to strictly enforce the provisions of this order within the bounds allowed by law,” the second order reads in part.
Earlier today, Zubiri signed Executive Order 18 which would have prohibited selling rice outside the province.
In Cagayan de Oro, Mayor Oscar Moreno told reporters that he understood where Zubiri was coming from.
“These are difficult times. People face difficulties differently. Mga leaders are no exemption,” Moreno said during a press briefing at city hall this morning.
Moreno said that while he understood Zubiri’s order, he also sees Bukidnon as part of a bigger community that is a part of Northern Mindanao.
“We are all Filipinos and we follow the same laws,” Moreno said.
Zubiri’s Executive Order 18 stemmed from a plan to distribute 100,000 bags of rice to Bukidnon residents for free during this time health emergency.
It added that the province already purchased over 40,000 bags and still needs 60,000 bags which the government intends to purchase at P1,850 a bag.
He said several traders were selling their products outside the province and it might cause depletion of rice in Bukidnon. (Cong B. Corrales and Shiela Mae Butlig)
