A part of the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal province. 鈥擣ile photo by Ni帽o Jesus Orbeta | Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Indigenous people (IP) in Tanay, Rizal, welcome the eviction of Blue Star Construction and Development Corp., the developer of the 300-hectare developer of Masungi Georeserve, saying that the firm had been using environmental advocacy as a pretext for abuse.
鈥淭his is a victory for the indigenous people because the government has recognized the abuses of the Dumaliang family, who have exploited environmental advocacy,鈥� IP leaders Zoilo Gerones, Virginia Arbolado, and Gemma Porciuncula said in Filipino in a joint statement on Saturday.
鈥淏ecause in reality, behind their deceptive advocacy is a long history of abuse against the indigenous people of Tanay, Rizal,鈥� they added.
READ: DENR to evict developer聽of Masungi Georeserve
The IP leaders also urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to nullify the memorandum of agreement between the Masungi Georeserve Foundation and the late Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.
鈥淭his [memorandum of agreement] grants Perpetual Usufruct to Masungi, covering parts of our ancestral domains, which violates the Constitution and the Indigenous Peoples鈥� Rights Act (RA 8371),鈥� the said.
READ: DENR orders developer to vacate Masungi Georeserve property
The DENR recently canceled its joint venture agreement with Blue Star, citing contract violations and failure to complete a government housing project.
In an order on Friday, March 7, the agency pointed out irregularities on the part of Blue Star, which is an affiliate of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI). The cited violations included:
- lack of a presidential proclamation declaring the area for housing purposes
- absence of proof that the project underwent proper procurement or bidding
- failure to deliver the 5,000-unit Garden Cottages housing project within five years from the contract signing on November 15, 2002
Following the agency鈥檚 unilateral termination of its nearly 23-year-old contract, Blue Star was given 15 days to vacate the area, with no extensions.
READ: Binay, Castro raise concerns over DENR order on Masungi Georeserve
However, Blue Star blamed the DENR for the project delays. The MGFI also maintained that the project 鈥渨as competitively bidded out by the DENR and won by Blue Star.鈥�
鈥淟et us be clear 鈥� it is the DENR who is at fault here. It has stubbornly refused to carry out its contractual obligation to clear the area of large-scale illegal occupants, liens, and encumbrances, causing delays to the project and significant injury to its private sector partner,鈥� MGFI said in a previous statement.