DENR plan to void Masungi pact a threat to environment, says lawmaker

FILE PHOTO: The plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel a deal on the protection of Masungi Georeserve is a threat to the ecosystem, according to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro. PHOTO FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said the plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel a deal on the protection of Masungi Georeserve is a threat to the ecosystem.

According to Castro, the DENR’s plan to void the memorandum of agreement (MOA) it entered into with Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI) in 2017 through then-environment secretary Gina Lopez will open the area to business development and possibly degrade the area, which provides vital support that prevents flood in Metro Manila.

Masungi Georeserve is a forest near Masungi Rock Formation, located near Rizal’s Tanay and Baras towns. Currently, MGFI manages and maintains the protected area. But the private firm is being scrutinized for supposedly profiting from it.

“The DENR’s plan to cancel the MOA is a direct threat to the environmental integrity of Masungi Georeserve. This decision could lead to irreversible damage to a critical ecological area that serves as a natural shield against dangerous flooding in the National Capital Region,” Castro said in a statement Friday.

READ: DENR thanks Leo DiCaprio but says law must prevail on Masungi

“Masungi is not just a piece of land; it’s a vital ecosystem that protects us all. Opening it up for business development is short-sighted and potentially catastrophic,” she added.

Issues surrounding Masungi Georeserve surfaced anew after award-winning Hollywood actor and known environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intervene and help protect the area against alleged risks of commercialization with the cancellation of the MOA.

On Instagram, the celebrity said Masungi Georeserve is now in danger and will likely face threats from mining and logging.

READ: Leonardo DiCaprio urges Bongbong Marcos to protect Masungi

The DENR’s current leadership, however, maintained that the rule of law must prevail on Masungi. It asserted that the MOA is unconstitutional. It also stressed that the area occupied by the MGFI is owned by the Filipino people and that the operation of resort venues that charge fees to the public “remains non-compliant with Philippine laws.“

The DENR nevertheless thanked DiCaprio for his concern on Masungi.

But Castro said she will raise the Masungi issue during deliberations for the proposed 2025 national budget, when it is DENR’s turn to explain their annual appropriation.

“We thank Leonardo DiCaprio and other global personalities for lending their voices to this crucial cause. Their support amplifies our local efforts and brings international attention to the importance of preserving Masungi,” Castro said.

“We will definitely bring this up at the next budget hearings. The DENR must be held accountable for its actions and explain why it’s considering a move that could severely compromise our environmental security,” she added.