MANILA (SE): Caritas Philippines has expressed concerns regarding the possible cancellation of the agreement that established the Masungi Georeserve Project, CBCP News reported on April 5. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] of the Philippines has recommended cancelling the 2017 agreement between the agency and the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc.
The reserve is a conservation area spanning 2,700 hectares and is located in the southern Sierra Madre range near the town of Baras in Rizal province. Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, the vice president of Caritas Philippines, stated that this move “is unwise and would be detrimental to environmental protection efforts”.
He added, “We are concerned about the real impact of this cancellation. This is a time when the government should be supporting successful initiatives, not hindering them.”
We are concerned about the real impact of this cancellation. This is a time when the government should be supporting successful initiatives, not hindering them
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza
CBCP News reported that during a Senate hearing on April 3, DENR secretary, Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, claimed that the contract with the foundation to conserve the protected area was “void” from the very beginning.
Caritas emphasised that the success of the award-winning reforestation project is a testament to its positive impact. It also echoed Masungi Georeserve’s statement that the move seems to favour “large-scale fraudulent claimants, land grabbers, quarries, and swimming pool resorts” rather than the people and the environment.
The organisation urged the DENR to explore alternative solutions, including formal negotiations and open dialogue, instead of cancelling the agreement.
“Caritas Philippines joins Masungi Georeserve in raising concerns that the cancellation could be a way to avoid the DENR’s obligation to remove illegal occupants from the protected area, including those with government ties,” Bishop Alminaza said.
