Zubiri Jr. has recently issued a directive placing the entire province of Bukidnon under total lockdown from April 13 to 26 after recording its first COVID-19 case. Among Zubiri’s countermeasures against the spread of COVID-19 is the shutting down of agri-related businesses such as sugar mills, pineapple and banana plantations for two weeks. Zubiri ordered the shutdown of the province’s two sugar mills on Tuesday, Busco Sugar Milling Company and Crystal Sugar Company, and said that the slack time should be used to disinfect their premises. Combined, they produce 82% of Mindanao’s total sugar output, and 16% of the country’s total production, according to the DA. There is a total of about 19,000 employees who work at the two sugar mills and several banana and pineapple companies in Bukidnon.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 15, 2020 04:38 UTC