Sen. Raffy Tulfo has filed a resolution raising the issue of conflict of interest in the duties of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga regarding her family's alleged ownership of about 40,000 hectares of land in the towns of Coron and Busuanga in Palawan called Yulo King Ranch (YKR).

Tulfo wants the Senate to investigate violations on the protected areas and questioned the ability of Yulo-Loyzaga to lead the agency.

In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 985 yesterday, Tulfo cited a Philippine Star article, stating that in 1975, then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1387 declaring a 40,000 hectares land area in Busuanga and Coron as pasture reserve -- a protected area owned by the state. But one year later, in 1976, the Yulos allegedly obtained said property. 

According to the article, the YKR has been branded “the largest agrarian anomaly.” 
"Every year, from 2015 until now, hundreds of farmers would hold a protest in Palawan as they request that the small 900 hectares land which is part of YKR be distributed and shared with them so that they can use and benefit from it," Tulfo said.

"Notably, Section 8 of the Republic Act No. 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018 mandated the Secretary of the DENR to carry out the mandates of the law to take care of protected areas," he added.

He also mentioned that Yulo recently issued a statement stating that the DENR does not intend to close down resorts built within the protected areas like in Mt. Apo, and instead, she said that they will look for common ground to consider workers. 

“Ngunit ang tanong ng mga environmentalist, bakit pa tayo magdedeklara ng mga protected area na kalaunan ay puwede palang patayuan ng mga resort at ang ibibigay na palusot ng DENR ay alangalang sa trabaho. Dagdag pa nila, malawak naman daw ang Pilipinas at mayroong ibang lugar na puwede ring tayuan ng mga resort na makakapagbigay din ng mga trabaho (But the question is as an environmentalist, why would we declare protected areas when eventually resorts will be built there and DENR would use the excuse that it's for livelihood purposes. They added that there are lots of areas in the Philippines where resorts can be put up),” he said. 

After the Senate hearing of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change last April 3, Tulfo said more people came to his office to report other protected areas that have been occupied by illegal structures, such as the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape and Ticao Burias Pass Protected Seascape. Also included is Mt. Apo and Chocolate Hills Natural Monument.

Under SR No. 985, Tulfo seeks to investigate all complaints about the violations done in protected areas, including the 40,000-hectare YKR issue. Among those who will be invited as resource persons are farmers in Palawan.

"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," he said in the resolution.

"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," he added.