‘Bakit sila andyan?’: Tulfo grills DENR over 2 guests at agency event

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‘Bakit sila andyan?’: Tulfo grills DENR over 2 guests at agency event

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Nov 19, 2024 01:38 PM PHT

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Sen. Raffy Tulfo attends a budget hearing, Nov. 13, 2023. Senate PRIB Photos/File 

 



MANILA — Sen. Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday criticized the environment department for the presence of two guests at the agency’s event in Rizal. 


During the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) budget hearing, Tulfo showed a photo of Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga with the owners of Quarry Rock Inc. and Rapid City Corp. and Montalban Aggregates Producers Association. 


The senator said the business owners who attended the event for Project TRANSFORM were “quarriers” whose permits were suspended in 2022. 


“Sinuspende ng DENR ang quarrying permit nito and yet inimbitahan sila diyan sa Project Transform. So out of delicadeza, bakit sila nandyan? Bakit sila naimbitahan,” Tulfo said. 


Sen. Cynthia Villar, DENR’s budget sponsor, said the individuals were invited by the governor and not by the agency. 


“My dear senator, when the governor was inviting people, the DENR cannot stop the governor. That is the reality of life in the Philippines. For me, if I am in Las Piñas and the mayor of Las Piñas will invite people, I cannot say that ‘look, I don’t like these people.’ You don’t do that,” said Villar. 


But Tulfo insisted it was the call of the DENR chief since it was the event of the government agency. 


Villar said it would put the governor in a difficult position. 


“You cannot say it directly to your constituent kahit gusto niya sabihin,” she said. “The governor cannot do that. I am a politician. You don’t do that.” 


She admitted though that one of the firms mentioned by Tulfo had a canceled permit because it was in a protected area.



ISSUE ON MASUNGI 



Tulfo explained why he raised the issue. 


“DENR is set to cancel the contract of Masungi Georeserve Inc. over Marikina Watershed. They might have the right to do so legally, but morally, no. Some people would say that. They have the legal right to do it but it is not in accordance to good practice,” said Tulfo. 



A team from DENR earlier recommended canceling a 2017 deal with the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI) for the conservation of 2,700 hectares of forested land in Rizal province.


Masungi Georeserve, which is the primary and longstanding caretaker of the forested land in Rizal that is home to prehistoric limestone formations and hundreds of plant and animal species, "is being sidelined apparently in favor of vested interest in the land which is the main motivation for canceling" the deal, an official from the Masungi foundation earlier alleged. 


“Sisibakin niyo yung Masungi tapos papasok itong Project TRANSFORM na kasama diyan ay itong dalawang mga grupo na sinuspende ang permit ng DENR. At hindi man lang inimbitahan ang mga Masungi sa gathering na yan,” he said. 



Tulfo told the DENR to do better instead. 


“Pag mayroon kayong project, gawin niyo namang malinis yung mga intent kapag kayo ay nagsibak ng mga grupo, huwag naman yung lokohan,” he said 


He also mentioned the importance of the variety of stakeholders during the event sponsored by the agency – most especially the presence of Masungi Georeserve. 


“Sana hindi nila ininvite yung suspendido, mga sinuspend nila na permit,” he said. 


“Dinisiplina niyo itong dalawang kumpanya dahil violator sila and yet you invited them,” he added. 




 

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