Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano —Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is calling for a Senate investigation into the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) decision to revoke a housing deal within the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal, a move that has sparked a dispute over land use, conservation, and governance.
In his Senate resolution No. 1323, Cayetano particularly urged the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to examine why the DENR revoked its Supplemental Joint Venture Agreement (SJVA) with Blue Star Construction Development Corporation (BSDC).
The developer had been authorized to build housing units for government employees within the protected area.
READ: DENR to evict developer of Masungi Georeserve
“The protection and conservation of the environment and our natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations of Filipinos is a sacred duty entrusted to our leaders,” Cayetano stated in the resolution.
The DENR first granted BSDC permission in 1996 to build 5,00 units, later expanding the deal in 2002. The agency, however, canceled the agreement this March due to the lack of presidential approval, missing compliance documents, and BSDC’s alleged failure to meet its obligations.
This dispute has since escalated, with the DENR accusing Masungi Georeserve Foundation, Inc. (MGFI), a group linked to BSDC, of prioritizing tourism over housing. MGFI, in turn, claimed that the DENR was neglecting its duty to remove illegal settlers and weakening environmental protection.
“It is imperative that the government, the private sector, and other stakeholders squarely confront this legal quandary in which the Masungi Georeserve finds itself,” Cayetano said.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has yet to schedule a hearing on the matter. —INQUIRER.net trainee, Sheba Barr