By Manny Piñol
Piura City, Peru – Following the killing of a farmer-leader by a blue guard in the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) ranch in Coron, Palawan over the weekend, I have ordered that the 2,000-hectare area be returned to the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The over 1,000 heads of cattle owned by BAI and kept in the ranch will be taken out as soon as possible and distributed to farmer beneficiaries in areas we have previously identified as cattle production areas.
I issued this directive yesterday to Dr. Enrico Garzon, assistant secretary for Livestock of the Department of Agriculture who is with me in Piura, Peru and who will join me on a quick trip to Argentina tomorrow.
This development followed the killing of a farmer by a blue guard during an altercation over the weekend.
The slain farmer was one of those who wanted to occupy part of the cattle ranch which was guarded by a group of security guards, including the suspect in the fatal shooting.
Dr. Garzon, who was the provincial veterinarian of North Cotabato when I was Governor, briefed me yesterday on the status of the Yulo King Ranch (YKR) which was seized by the government from the Yulo Family following the sequestration of assets and properties of suspected cronies of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
He informed me that BAI does not actually own the ranch and that it was only allowed to use it under an inter-agency agreement.
The ranch occupied by the BAI is actually part of the 40,000 hectares which was the original Yulo King Ranch.
Upon learning of these details, I instructed Dr. Garzon to get the cattle stocks out of the ranch and effect the return of the area to the DENR.
There are two main underlying reasons for this decision:
1. The over 1,000 heads of cattle in the ranch would benefit poor farming families if these are distributed to the livestock production centres which we have identified.
Under the program, which will initially be started in North Cotabato and Quirino, each town will have a cattle multiplier farm of 20 heads of heifers and 2 bulls, the offsprings of which will be dispersed to farming families.
This program was designed to increase the meat production in the country because of the greater demand for beef by consumers.
2. It is simply unthinkable for 1,000 heads of cattle to occupy an area which a group of poor farmers would like to cultivate so they could survive.
It should be people over cattle.
While the decision on whether to give the area to the farmers does not depend on me or the Dept. of Agriculture because the DA does not own the property, I do not see any point of government holding on a large tract of land which it is not using for any purpose.
As soon as I and Dr. Garzon arrive in the Philippines next week, the transfer of the cattle will immediately be started.
(Photo of the cattle in the Yulo King Ranch taken by J. Ellao / Bulatlat.com)
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