MANILA, Philippines – Nilinaw ni Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga na government-owned ang Busuanga Pasture Reserve sa Palawan at hindi pag-aari ng kanilang pamilya.
Aniya, hindi rin kasama sa negosasyon ang kanyang pamilya ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) para sa distribusyon ng naturang ari-arian.
“The Yulo family has never owned this land and has no interest in owning it,” ani Loyzaga.
Ang paglilinaw na ito ay kasunod ng alegasyon sa umano’y conflict of interest bilang DENR chief.
Sinasabi kasi na ang pamilya ng DENR chief ang may-ari ng 40,000 ektarya ng kagubatan at ancestral domain sa Palawan.
“I hope that this puts to rest all false allegations that came out only after I joined the DENR and started cleaning up the place to make sure only public interest prevails and is served,” sinabi pa ni Loyzaga.
Ang Busuanga Pasture Reserve ay itinatag sa ilalim ng Proclamation No.1387 noong 1975 ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na matatagpuan sa munisipalidad ng Coron at Busuanga.
Sa Executive Order 75, na pinirmahan ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte noong Pebrero 1, 2019, inatasan ang DAR na pangunahan ang pagproseso sa ‘idle’ at abandoned government-owned lands na maaaring masakop sa ilalim ng
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Noong 2022, ipinamahagi ng DAR ang nasa 800 hanggang 900 ektarya ng agricultural GOLs mula sa kabuuang 2,105 ektarya ng lot 699-Busuanga Cadastre at bahagi ng Yulo King Ranch sa 786 agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Nitong Huwebes, Abril 4, naghain si Senador Raffy Tulfo ng resolusyon para imbestigahan ang reklamo ng paglabag sa protected areas, kabilang ang Yulo King Ranch.
Saad sa Senate Resolution 985 na “such allegations could undermine public trust in the DENR and affect its capability to effectively fulfill its mandate of making unbiased decisions regarding issues of similar nature, as well as protecting the environment and natural resources of the country.”
“It is imperative to investigate these allegations thoroughly to ensure that public officials adhere to the highest ethical standards, thereby safeguarding the public interest and maintaining trust in public institutions,” sinabi pa sa resolusyon. RNT/JGC
