Photo shows limestone formations at Masungi Georeserve located at the southern portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Baras, Rizal taken on Feb. 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Masungi Georeserve Foundation hopes Lotilla's appointment as DENR chief signals 'new dawn'

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1748064823821limestone.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photo shows limestone formations at Masungi Georeserve located at the southern portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Baras, Rizal taken on Feb. 24, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Masungi Georeserve Foundation is hopeful that Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla&#x27;s appointment to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will signal a &quot;new dawn&quot; of engagement with conservationists and advocates.</p><p>It also acknowledged that Lotilla&#x27;s ties to the energy sector raise &quot;important questions&quot; among environmentalists.</p><p>Ann Dumaliang, managing trustee of the foundation, said she is &quot;encouraged by the positive regard —  both personal and professional —  that he holds among social impact practitioners and members of the academe.&quot;</p><p>Lotilla&#x27;s new designation comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for courtesy resignations in what he called a reset of the Cabinet.</p><p>Masungi has been in a dispute with the DENR that Dumaliang said has &quot;nearly undone&quot; two decades of efforts in protecting the forest of the Upper Marikina watershed.</p><p>&quot;I hope that his leadership signals a new dawn — one that embraces communication, partnership for action, environment protection and genuine inclusivity of conservation frontliners as integral to our national progress,&quot; she said.</p><p>Masungi, an organization focused on conserving Philippine limestone formations and biodiversity, said it commits to being open to dialogue and collaboration.</p><p>In March, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/3/9/wrap-rocky-road-for-masungi-as-denr-scraps-agreement-on-georeserve-2240">scrapped a 2002 agreement and told Masungi to leave the land they manage in Rizal.</a></p><p>DENR said it had &quot;untangled the legal complications&quot; in the contract with Masungi parent Blue Star Construction and Development Corp. which it said has unmet obligations.</p><p>Masungi argued that the problems the department cited were due to the government&#x27;s failure to clear illegal structures and developments. It said that with their eviction, &quot;the very gains [they] fought for in conservation will be at grave risk, leaving only a carcass for greed to devour.&quot;</p><p>Despite Masungi&#x27;s positive outlook, Lotilla&#x27;s appointment also faces criticism, with Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director Jasper Inventor calling his record at DOE &quot;less than desirable.&quot;</p><p>Environment advocates have sounded the alarm on his efforts to promote nuclear energy and fossil fuels, and to reverse the moratorium on coal-fired power plants.</p><p>&quot;Lotilla takes over the DENR at a time of worsening climate, pollution and biodiversity crisis. We urge him to stay true to the mandate of the DENR to protect and conserve the environment for the welfare of present and future generations of Filipinos,&quot; Inventor also said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bUaraJJAxDE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Masungi managing trustee Ann Dumaliang said Saturday that after three difficult years that have "nearly undone" two decades of efforts in protecting the forest, she hopes <i>Secretary Raphael Lotilla</i>s appointment becomes a fresh start.</p>

Masungi managing trustee Ann Dumaliang said Saturday that after three difficult years that have "nearly undone" two decades of efforts in protecting the forest, she hopes Secretary Raphael Lotilla s appointment becomes a fresh start.

Masungi hopes for ‘new dawn’ at DENR despite concerns on Lotilla appointment | ABS-CBN

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Masungi hopes for ‘new dawn’ at DENR despite concerns on Lotilla appointment

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 24, 2025 02:19 PM PHT

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Updated May 24, 2025 06:34 PM PHT

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