The Masungi Georeserve Foundation called for the urgent intervention of the national government in protecting the environment and environmental defenders following the claims from supposed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel of a relocation site of the New Bilibid Prison within the vicinity of the geopark.

“We thus ask for the urgent intervention of President Bongbong Marcos and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to uphold the Masungi Geopark Project, appoint a competent project manager to resolve conflicts and prevent further violence against environment defenders, immediately cease the unending issuance/applications of unscrupulous instruments within Masungi and adjacent protected areas, and make those responsible accountable,” Masungi said in a statement.

Five cars and 20 men, allegedly from BuCor, arrived at the georeserve at around 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, with orders to conduct an “ocular inspection" for the supposed New Bilibid Prison site.

“They bear a newly minted title over 270 hectares of the Lot 10 property in the name of BuCor. The remaining 30 hectares of Lot 10 were reportedly titled in the name of the DENR. Lot 10 and the 300 hectares in question comprise the Masungi Georeserve,” the statement read.

The foundation questioned these claims.

According to Masungi, Lot 10, the location of the georeserve’s limestone formations, was equitized in a joint venture project between the DENR and Blue Star Development Corporation since 2002, and included in conservation projects with the DENR through the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by former Secretary Gina Lopez in 2017.

Lot 10 has also been included in several protected and conserved areas such as the National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary and Game Preserve (Proclamation 1636 in 1977 created by President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.), the proposed Masungi Strict Nature Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (DENR DAO 33 in 1993 by former DENR Secretary Dr. Angel C. Alcala), and the Kaliwa River Forest Reserve (Proclamation 573 in 1969).

“As early as 2009, DENR Secretary Lito Atienza issued a memorandum to the DENR Regional Director to submit an alternative area for the New Bilibid Prison for the amendment of Presidential Proclamation 1158, since Lot 10 is already subject to private rights,” it said.

The statement added that the people in the community were not consulted regarding the relocation site. Masungi cited Tanay Council’s Resolution 2011-103, dated May 10, 2011, which opposed the New Bilibid project.

Masungi said it also sent letters relaying the information concerning Lot 10 to BuCor last Feb. 11, 2022 and June 28, 2022.

The foundation emphasized that its team, especially the rangers and environmental defenders at the frontlines, have been physically and legally protecting the georeserve against professional squatters for decades.

Masungi insisted on the preservation of the geopark, saying there must be other viable alternative sites for the prison.

“The Masungi Geopark Project is at the forefront of the Philippines’ climate change agenda to enable effective, nature-based solutions involving the private sector, civil society, and communities. Sabotaging Masungi goes against our nation’s sustainable development,” it said.