March 8, 2023

HON. MARIA ANTONIA YULO LOYZAGA

Secretary
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City

ATTN: Director Gwendolyn Cabataña Bambalan

Regional Executive Director
Regio 2, Tuguegarao City

PENR Officer – Cagayan

CENR Officer – Aparri, Cagayan

Dear Secretary Loyzaga:

Environmental Greetings!
This Pertains to letter- complaint dated February 28, 2020 (letter attached) regarding the
Survey Authority issued on February 2, 2009 and now eventually the issuance of a Title to
Certain Imelda C. dela Cruz with Nos. CARP 2018 000091 and CARP 2016 000341.
The Lot no. 18 has an area of approximately 16 Hectares situated at So. Bubunan, San
Vicente, Sta Ana, Cagayan. This was occupied and tilled/farmed as ricefield, those area
below 18 degrees with approximately 5 hactares and the rest surrounded by rolling hills and
serves as protection forest for water support of the farm of our Family for the last 50 years.
Chronology of facts or events:
1. The elders of Bo. Casagan who are listed claimants together with my Mother Luisa
Esteban (copy attached ) wrote a letter to the CENR Officer of Aparri dated May 17, 2006,
copy furnished Undersecretary For Lands , Director Manuel D. Gerochi, CESO I, had
directed the then Asst. Regional Executive Director Leonardo R. Sibbaluca, DENR R-2 and
the Barangay Captain Romy Serrano of Barangay San Vicente with an even dates and the
approved Survey Authority on December 15, 2000 (copies attached).
2. The cause of delay to proceed to survey was that the area is remote due to the absence of
road and at that time, it can be reached only by boat and due to non availability of
Geodetic Engineer as well to execute the survey.
3. Despite of many letters protest re: destruction of the buffer zones or protected area of
Mrs. Esteban to the in convent CENR 0fficer –Aparri at that time and end results is no
action given and to no avail, the requested protest felled into deaf ears and proceeded in
the proceesing Mrs. Dela Cruz titles.
4. Without the participation and the people who are legitimate claimants and absence of
Authority to survey in So. Bubunan. Mrs. Imelda C. dela Cruz hired Geodetic Engineer
Jaime P. Costales who had conducted the lot survey and the issuance of tabled survey and
certified as A and D by Foresters Robert T. Banastas and Constante S. Basques dated
November 11, 2008. Thus, the processing of 2 Titled CARP named to Mrs. Imelda Castillo
dela Cruz was issued on March 26, 2013. Prior to the Survey, no development introduced
not even single coconut or any agricultural products was planted until now as of this
writing. The people hired by Dela Cruz had deforested part of the area contested as
reported in our previous complaint long ago without the response of CENRO Office Aparri
until now.
In view of the foregoing, the survey authority granted by ARED Sibbaluca to elders signed
in the request was delayed due to titles granted to Mrs. IMELDA C. DELA CRUZ that caused
confusion and disarrayed the execution to proceed in the survey.