Caritas Philippines on Friday, April 5 expressed its disapproval with the decision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel the Masungi Geopark Project.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) development and advocacy arm was reacting to DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga's statement that the contract signed in 2017 between then-DENR Secretary Gina Lopez and the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Incorporated (MGFI) is "void ab initio," or not valid from the beginning.
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Caritas expressed concern about the real impact of the cancellation, raising the possibility that the move was a way for the DENR to “avoid” its obligation to remove illegal occupants from the protected area, including those with government ties.
"We believe the planned cancellation is unwise and would be detrimental to environmental protection efforts," Caritas Philippines Vice President Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said.
Caritas believed that this is a time when the government should be supporting successful initiatives, not “hindering” them.
“The success of the Masungi Georeserve Project is a testament to its positive impact,” it added.
The group also echoed Masungi Georeserve's statement that the move seems to favor "large-scale fraudulent claimants, land grabbers, quarries and swimming pool resorts" rather than prioritizing its Filipino people and the environment.
Caritas urged the DENR to explore alternative solutions, such as formal negotiations and open dialogue, instead of canceling the project entirely.
It also called upon the public to stand together against this "unwise" decision and fight for the preservation of the Masungi Geopark Project.