Binay, Castro raise concerns over DENR order on Masungi Georeserve
The Masungi Georeserve has become one of the largest collaborative reforestation efforts in the country using self-generated funds from geotourism. Through visits to the trails, the foundation is able to sustainably finance the conservation of the area. (Masungi Georeserve Foundation)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Nancy Binay and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro raised concerns over the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) order for the developer of Masungi Georeserve in Rizal to vacate the 300-hectare property.
In its order on Friday, the DENR alleged irregularities on the part of Blue Star Construction Development Corporation, an affiliate of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI) which manages the property.
“Masungi is for our children and our children’s children. Ngayong pinaba-vacate nila ang Masungi Georeserve in 15 days, ano ang vision at plano ng DENR para mapangalagaan at maprotektahan ang Masungi?” Binay said in a statement on Saturday.
(Masungi is for our children and our children’s children. Now that they’re ordering Masungi Georeserve to vacate the area in 15 days, what’s the vision and plan of the DENR to care for and protect Masungi?)
“[N]ababahala tayo sa magiging resulta ng kanselasyon ng kontrata ng Blue Star. Alam nating walang kakayanan ang DENR na saluhin ang anumang kasalukuyang aksyon na ginagawa ng foundation,” the senator added.
(We are concerned with what the result of the cancellation with Blue Star will be. We know the DENR has no capacity to take over the current actions of the foundation.)
Sen. Nancy Binay (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
Binay is the current chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovations and Futures Thinking.
For its part, the MGFI pinned the blame on the DENR, claiming the agency did not clear the area of large-scale illegal occupants, liens and encumbrances which they said caused “significant injury” to Blue Star.
“Ang pagpapaalis sa Masungi Georeserve Foundation ay malinaw na hakbang tungo sa pagbukas ng protektadong lugar para sa komersyal na interes,” Castro said in a statement also on Saturday.
(The order for Masungi Georeserve Foundation to vacate is a clear step toward opening the protected area to commercial interests.)
“Ano ba talaga ang plano ng DENR? Iligtas ang kalikasan o ibenta ito sa mga mayayamang developer?” the ACT Teachers party-list representative added.
(What is the plan of the DENR? Save the environment or sell it to wealthy developers?)
Castro echoed the MGFI’s sentiment that the move was “part of a larger, more insidious effort to weaken environmental protection.”
“The timing of this eviction notice is highly suspicious, coming at a time when Masungi has received international recognition for its conservation efforts,” she said.
“This is not about legal technicalities. This is about silencing environmental advocates who have been effective in protecting our natural resources,” Castro added.
