By Gabriela Baron
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday removed the barbed wire hammered into the trees in Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal.
Steel fencing wire removed and confiscated by the DENR at the reforestation site inside the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal (DENR / MANILA BULLETIN)
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and Undersecretary Benny Antiporda inspected the Masungi Geopark Project in Tanay to validate reports that quarry companies are illegally encroaching in the protected area.
Cimatu vowed to close down the quarry and cancel the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) issued in the conservation site.
“The geopark has been subject to protection and conservation efforts for over 15 years by a group of passionate environmental advocates,” the DENR said.Secretary Cimatu orders the immediate removal of the barbed wire hammered into the Sacking Tree or Tibig – a species classified under #PhilippineNativeTrees. #ProtectedArea pic.twitter.com/W6uW7KXchl
— ＤＥＮＲ (@DENROfficial) March 3, 2020
The Georeserve, meanwhile, expressed their gratitude to those who gave support and urged the authorities to take action on the problem.
"Together with everyone who has expressed their support, we will save Masungi from quarrying and other destructive activities. In the next few days, let's continue to be vigilant and closely follow and support the next steps being taken by the authorities," its statement read.
The Masungi Georeserve Foundation previously sought help from the Environment department after it found out that a quarry firm blocked a portion of its reforestation site by barbed wire.
The 2,000-hectare geopark is situated in the Southern Sierra Madre range in Rizal.
READ MORE: ‘Our trees are bleeding’: Quarry operations affect conservation efforts of Masungi Georeserve