MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo has raised doubts about Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga’s capacity to effectively lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
This concern arose following an article in the Philippine Star by Jarius Bondoc, which highlighted allegations that Yulo-Loyzaga’s family had acquired 40,000 hectares of land in Coron and Busuanga known as Yulo King Ranch (YKR). Reportedly, seven hectares of this land are being utilized for a meat processing plant.
In 1975, Presidential Proclamation No. 1387, under former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., designated this 40,000-hectare land on Busuanga Island as a pasture reserve, explicitly stating that it is not to be sold, distributed, or utilized for purposes other than as a pasture reserve.
“Tulfo emphasized, “This land is public domain; which means it belongs to the people and not to private individuals,” said Tulfo.
The senator labeled this situation as “the largest agrarian anomaly.”
“Every year, from 2015 to the present, hundreds of farmers have been protesting in Palawan, pleading for the modest 900 hectares within YKR to be distributed to them for their use and benefit,” he added.
(el Amigo/MNM)
