Controversies
Oil spill response and criticism of leadership
During the 2023 Oriental Mindoro oil spill, when the MT Princess Empress tanker sank, Yulo-Loyzaga faced criticism for a perceived lack of leadership and visibility. Local officials and lawmakers complained that no one from the national government was clearly in charge of the disaster response. [7]
At a Senate inquiry, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor stated that local authorities were "confused because they do not know who was in charge," and that towns were "wailing and begging for assistance." [8] The delayed response became a political issue, prompting senators to urge President Marcos to designate a point person to oversee the crisis. [9]
Critics noted that Yulo-Loyzaga was largely "absent" or "nowhere to be seen" during the environmental disaster. [10] Opposition figures and environmental advocates accused her of failing to take a proactive role in managing the response, leaving local government units to handle the crisis without clear national leadership.
Yulo-Loyzaga later defended the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)'s efforts, stating that they had been involved since the early days of the incident. However, she acknowledged challenges in coordination with other government agencies. Despite these assurances, the criticism persisted, with some lawmakers and environmental groups pointing to the incident as evidence of weak leadership within the DENR. [11]
Yulo family ranch land dispute
Yulo-Loyzaga has been linked to the controversy surrounding the Yulo King Ranch (YKR), a pasture reserve covering approximately 40,000 hectares in Busuanga, Palawan. The land was originally designated as government property in 1975 under Presidential Proclamation No. 1387. However, in 1976, control of the land was reportedly transferred to the Yulo family, a politically influential clan with ties to the Marcos regime. [12]
Peasant organizations and agrarian reform advocates have alleged that this transfer constituted "massive land grabbing," displacing farmers who had been tilling the land before Martial Law. [13] A 2014 fact-finding mission by peasant groups described YKR as "the largest agrarian anomaly in the country," stating that local communities had been forcibly removed from the land through government-backed actions during the Marcos era. [13]
After the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) sequestered YKR on the grounds that it may have been acquired as ill-gotten wealth. However, legal disputes over the land persisted for decades, and various government administrations failed to resolve the issue. [14]
The issue resurfaced following Yulo-Loyzaga's appointment as DENR Secretary in 2022. In April 2024, Senator Raffy Tulfo filed a resolution calling for an investigation into her family's involvement in YKR. Tulfo cited reports that "Yulo King Ranch stands accused of land grabbing" and suggested that Yulo-Loyzaga's role as DENR Secretary could present a conflict of interest. [15]
In response, Yulo-Loyzaga denied any connection to the land dispute, stating that "the Yulo family has never owned this land and has no interest in owning it." [16] Her claim is contradicted by a public Supreme Court directive, which ordered YKR ownership to be returned to heirs of Luis Yulo and their associates. [17]
Despite Yulo-Loyzaga statements, farmers' groups and lawmakers continue to raise concerns over the Yulo family's historical association with the land. The issue remains a subject of public scrutiny, with critics questioning whether Yulo-Loyzaga's position at DENR presents an ethical conflict in relation to YKR. [18]
Masungi Georeserve conflict
Under the leadership of Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been involved in significant disputes concerning the Masungi Georeserve, a critical conservation area in Rizal province. In a 2022 Senate hearing, Yulo-Loyzaga questioned the validity of a 2017 memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DENR and the Masungi Georeserve Foundation (MGF), stating that it was "illegal, infirm, and disadvantageous to the government," despite the conservation work being entirely financed by MGF. [19]
Tensions between DENR and Masungi escalated further in 2023 and 2024. Under Yulo-Loyzaga's leadership, DENR initiated moves to nullify contracts supporting Masungi's operations. In March 2025, the agency unilaterally voided a 2002 supplemental agreement, ordering Masungi's partner, Blue Star Corp., to vacate the site. [20]
Masungi's founders denounced the eviction attempt, stating that it was "part of a larger, more insidious effort to weaken environmental protection, silence advocates, and clear the path for selfish commercial interests to exploit our natural resources." In particular, the cancellation of the MOA is crucial to make way for attempts to quarry the conservation site. [21] The Masungi Georeserve Foundation refuted DENR's claims regarding the housing project, stating that the department itself had failed to act against illegal occupants who encroached on the land, making construction unfeasible. [22]
Various environmental groups, as well as the Upper Marikina Watershed Coalition, have expressed support for Masungi, urging Yulo-Loyzaga to engage in direct dialogue rather than dismantling a conservation project that has received international recognition for its impact on reforestation and biodiversity protection. [23]
In November 2022, during a Senate plenary session on the DENR's proposed 2023 budget, Senator Raffy Tulfo directed Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to urgently address the contractual issues surrounding the 2017 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, instructing Yulo-Loyzaga to "fix the contract rather than to cancel it" during the session. [24] As indicated by the lack of dialogue and the cancellation notice, Tulfo's directive was ignored.
Environmental groups and conservationists criticized Yulo-Loyzaga's stance, warning that undermining Masungi's conservation work could set a dangerous precedent for private sector-led environmental investments and protection efforts. [25] Environmentalists accused DENR, under Yulo-Loyzaga's watch, of targeting conservation efforts while failing to address illegal activities such as quarrying and land-grabbing in the watershed. [26]
Chocolate Hills resort encroachment
In March 2024, Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga faced criticism over the DENR's oversight concerning the construction of Captain's Peak Garden and Resort within the protected Chocolate Hills area in Bohol, a UNESCO Global Geopark. [27] The resort, featuring amenities such as swimming pools and waterslides, was built in a way that damaged Chocolate Hills and did so without securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the DENR. [28]
At times, Yulo-Loyzaga appeared to defend the resort owners. She noted they possessed land titles dating back to before the area's designation as a protected landscape, suggesting further investigation rather than action. [29]
Public and legislative responses focused on the DENR's oversight role under Yulo-Loyzaga's leadership. Senators Nancy Binay and Cynthia Villar called for the resort's demolition, citing its impact on the Chocolate Hills' ecological integrity. [30] Environmental groups also criticized Yulo-Loyzaga and the DENR for failing to prevent the construction, raising concerns about potential threats to the area's UNESCO status. [31]
Manila Bay reclamation controversy
In early 2023, Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga faced growing criticism from fisherfolk and environmental groups over her handling of Manila Bay reclamation projects. The fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) accused her of failing in her mandate to protect coastal communities, alleging that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had not taken sufficient action to halt projects that threatened livelihoods and worsened environmental risks. [32] In August 2023, amid mounting public backlash and scrutiny and inaction from Yulo-Loyzaga, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. intervened and ordered the suspension of 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay, citing environmental risks. [33]
Following the suspension, concerns over the projects expanded internationally. The U.S. Embassy in Manila publicly expressed reservations about the environmental and social impacts of the reclamation activities and raised alarms over the involvement of certain Chinese firms. [34] Despite these suspension, reports in late 2023 suggested that some reclamation activities were continuing, prompting further criticisms of the DENR's enforcement and oversight. [35]
In February 2025, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute released a study commissioned by the DENR, confirming that the reclamation projects would worsen flooding in Metro Manila by obstructing natural water flow and drainage pathways. The study also found that the projects would disrupt marine ecosystems and negatively affect the livelihoods of fisherfolk reliant on the bay's resources. [36] While Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga publicly acknowledged these findings, she did not commit to canceling the projects. Instead, she suggested that local government units (LGUs) and private developers should be responsibility for mitigating the impacts on affected communities, including the displacement of fisherfolk and worsening environmental conditions. [37]
Sibuyan Island mining controversy
Yulo-Loyzaga faced significant scrutiny over her handling of nickel mining operations on Sibuyan Island, Romblon Province, a biodiversity hotspot often referred to as the "Galapagos of Asia." In February 2023, the DENR issued a cease and desist order against Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC), halting the construction of an illegal causeway, suspending its ore transport permit, and denying its lease application. [38] While this move was initially welcomed, critics argued it was insufficient as it failed to cancel APMC's Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), leaving open the possibility for mining to continue. Protests erupted, with residents forming human barricades to block mining trucks. [39]
Despite promises of a thorough review, Yulo-Loyzaga failed to take further decisive action, leading to continued community opposition. On March 6, 2025, the group "Kabayan ng Sibuyan" demanded the revocation of APMC's permit, with a spokesperson accusing her of "prolonged negligence that has endangered Sibuyan's future." [40] The following day, over 2,000 residents staged a rally in San Fernando, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction. [41]
Environmentalists argue that her reluctance to revoke APMC's permit reflects a broader pattern of leniency toward extractive industries and that her failure to act decisively has emboldened mining interests and left Sibuyan's fragile ecosystem at risk. [42]
Yulo-Loyzaga has been ranked as one of the lowest-performing cabinet members in public perception surveys. A nationwide poll conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation (RPMD) in early 2024 placed her at the bottom of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Cabinet, with an approval rating of 46%, the lowest among all surveyed department heads. [43]
A subsequent survey in mid-2024 reaffirmed this ranking, with Yulo-Loyzaga's approval rating increasing slightly to 50%, but still placing her among the lowest-performing cabinet officials. [44] The RPMD survey results showed that most of her peers received significantly higher ratings, with top-performing Cabinet members registering approval scores in the 80–90% range. [44]
Critics have pointed to these rankings as evidence of weak public confidence in her leadership, linking her low ratings to perceived failings in handling environmental crises, such as the Oriental Mindoro oil spill and the ongoing disputes over the Masungi Georeserve. [44] Environmental groups and opposition figures have used the survey results to call for stronger leadership within DENR, arguing that the department has been slow in addressing key environmental challenges under Yulo-Loyzaga's tenure. [44]
Repeated low rankings and unresolved issues have continued to fuel criticism, with some lawmakers suggesting that a leadership change in DENR may be necessary to improve public trust in the agency. Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga's capability to lead DENR impartially and filed Senate Resolution No. 985, seeking an investigation into her alleged conflict of interest regarding land ownership in Palawan. [45] [31] Representative Erwin Tulfo similarly criticized Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga for perceived inaction in addressing environmental issues, suggesting that her repeated failures warranted a closer evaluation of her leadership and the competence of the DENR. [46]
Preferential treatment of business over civil society
Yulo-Loyzaga has been accused of preferential treatment, allegedly favoring corporate stakeholders while neglecting dialogues with environmental and conservation advocates. Multiple environmental groups expressed frustration over unanswered requests for meetings with DENR leadership under her tenure, contrasting this with perceived frequent interactions granted to business interests, especially from the mining and construction sectors. [47]
At international forums, such as the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), Yulo-Loyzaga was also criticized for allegedly sidelining non-governmental organizations in favor of corporate representatives. Advocacy groups claimed that she allocated limited space for environmental defenders while facilitating discussions with private sector representatives, including those with vested interests in natural resources exploitation. [47] Critics have highlighted this perceived imbalance as detrimental to the department's core environmental responsibilities. [47]
Frequent travel allegations
Yulo-Loyzaga has been criticized for her frequent international travel, with some lawmakers questioning whether her trips abroad have hindered her ability to provide hands-on leadership at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In late 2023, Senator Raffy Tulfo raised concerns over what he described as "excessive foreign travel," alleging that DENR's travel budget had ballooned to P1.1 billion. [48] Tulfo further claimed that Yulo-Loyzaga had taken 13 to 14 foreign trips in a single year, accusing her of using her diplomatic passport to classify personal travel as official government business. [49]
Critics highlighted perceptions that frequent overseas travel rendered her unavailable during key domestic environmental crises. However, the DENR defended Yulo-Loyzaga's international engagements, stating that her trips were essential to secure international funding and support for environmental programs. The DENR clarified that Yulo-Loyzaga had taken only six official trips during the year, emphasizing their necessity for climate and environmental policy negotiations. [50]
