Camille Naredo

Members of the press join representatives from the Makabayan Bloc during a courtesy visit at the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal on February 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Members of the press join representatives from the Makabayan Bloc during a courtesy visit at the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal on February 24, 2023. The Georeserve is currently being considered as a site for the construction of the new Bureau of Corrections Headquarters which drew flak from conservationists citing its significance as a protected area.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MASUNGI RESERVE

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174213630097820230224-masungi-georeserve-JC0602.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of the press join representatives from the Makabayan Bloc during a courtesy visit at the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal on February 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the press join representatives from the Makabayan Bloc during a courtesy visit at the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal on February 24, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- An official of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation said the cancellation of agreement with development firm Blue Star Construction Development Corp. dealt a heavy blow on their conservation efforts in the area.</p><p>Ann Dumaliang, project manager and management trustee of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, said they lost a mechanism to protect the  famous conservation area.</p><p>&quot;Ang implikasyon talaga nyan doon sa lugar ay s&#x27;yempre mawawala ng isang mekanismo na nagprotekta sa lugar na iyon ng pagkatagal tagal na panahon,&quot; said Dumaliang in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo.</p><p>&quot;Kung titignan natin ang lugar na ito, talagang talamak na ang mga pag okupa ng lupa sa lugar na ito. Siguro noong panahon ng 2002 noong pumasok &#x27;yung joint venture agreement sa lugar, napaka prolific ng land grabbing activities doon, to the extent na tatlong secretary pa ng DENR ang merong memo na nakasulat patungkol dyan,&quot; she narrated.</p><p>&quot;Dahil sa memo na iyon at pagtutulungan ng gobyerno at private sector ng panahong iyon ay talagang naisalba atin kahit papaano, although not completely, yung lugar na ito from getting occupied by all these illegal groups, kaya ito na ang gubat na nakikita natin ngayon.&quot;</p><p>But the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has cancelled a 2002 agreement with the development firm. This led to an order for Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. to leave the area within 15 days.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/3/9/wrap-rocky-road-for-masungi-as-denr-scraps-agreement-on-georeserve-2240">WRAP: Rocky road for Masungi as DENR scraps agreement on georeserve</a></div><p>&quot;Talagang ang sabi ko, hindi makatarungan at mapag-api at pabaya ang ginawa nila. Dahil mayroon kaming agreement meron kasing mekanismo para makipagtalakayan kung meron conflict o kelangang bigyan ng linaw,&quot; said Dumaliang. </p><p>&quot;Ni isang pagkakataon hindi nila natawagan ng Blue Star para ipaalam sa kanila na mayroong breach in contract. Hindi nagkaroon ng pagconvene at pag-gagather ng oversight committee na meron naman na tsine-chair ng DENR, bagkus diniretso nila ang cancellation.&quot;</p><p>Dumaliang said some of the allegations against the development firm was that they turned the area into a resort.</p><p>&quot;Marami silang binabanggit. &#x27;Yung ilan dito for the last two years na paulit pulit nating dinedebunk, &#x27;yung claim na naging resort ang proyekto kahit walang tulugan dito na pinauupan para pasukin ng mga tao. Trails ang main activity ng Masungi Georeserve Foundation,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung mga ninirereport nating mga illegal na grupo dito sa paligid noong huling 15 taon hindi nabibigyan ng ganyang considerasyon and yet itong conservation partner na napakalaki ang success sa pangangalaga, parang walang due process. Pero naging unilateral ang attept nila para sa kanselasyon.&quot;</p><p>But Environment Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Norlito Eneran said that based on the observation of the Commission on Audit the area involves a housing project that lacked backing from the government.</p><p>&quot;Since 2014 mayroon na pong observation ang COA rito. In fact, nagkaroon ng investigation ng DENR... Sinasabi ng COA na &#x27;yung supplemental agreement noong 2002 ay walang kaukulang Presidential Proclamation... &#x27;Pag nagpapagawa kasi ang gobyerno ng isang housing project, kailangan may basbas ang President,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Unlike doon sa 1997 joint venture agreement which is a housing project, mayroon siyang two presidential proclamation setting aside 130 hectares of government land for housing purposes. Nung nagdagdag sila isang area which is larger than the original contract, ito na yung 2002 supplemental agreement, 300 hectares, walang kaukulang Presidential Proclamation.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/7/denr-cancels-deal-with-masungi-developer-orders-them-to-vacate-area-1259">DENR cancels deal with Masungi developer, orders them to vacate area</a></div><p>The COA findings also indicated that the area covered by the cancellation lacked an accomplishment report.</p><p>&quot;Walang nagawang housing unit. Dahil &#x27;yan ang observation ng COA at inatasan ayo ng COA na magimbestiga. In 2016 may mga findings po tayo na hanggang 2016 ay walang nagagawa(ng pabahay),&quot; said Eneran.</p><p>&quot;Ngayong administration, inupuan ito, binigyan ng pansin at inevaluate ang mga dokumento at tama nga na ayon sa batas na kailangan ating icancel ang housing project. Hindi na po talaga appropriate na housing project ito kasi kailangan nating i-conserve. Hindi po sisirain ng DENR ang ating kalikasan sa Masungi.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><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/XL0Jt1Ib_gY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>An official of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation said the cancellation of agreement with development firm Blue Star Construction Development Corp. dealt a heavy blow on their conservation efforts in the area.</p>

An official of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation said the cancellation of agreement with development firm Blue Star Construction Development Corp. dealt a heavy blow on their conservation efforts in the area.

Cancellation of deal with developer a blow to conservation efforts: Masungi official

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Regions

Cancellation of deal with developer a blow to conservation efforts: Masungi official

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 16, 2025 10:56 PM PHT

Read More:

Cancellation

Masungi Georeseve Foundation

DENR

ABSNews

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Blue Star Construction Development Corp

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.