Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has called on the Senate to look into the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) supposed cancellation of a housing agreement within the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal.

Cayetano, in filing Senate Resolution No. 1323, called for a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe into the DENR’s decision to revoke its Supplemental Joint Venture Agreement (SJVA) with a private developer considering the area in Masungi in Baras, Rizal is a protected area known for its limestone cliffs, forests and rich biodiversity.

The senator also emphasized Masungi’s critical role in ecological balance and flood prevention.

The DENR had canceled the agreement just this month, citing lack of presidential approval and proof of compliance with bidding and procurement laws, and Blue Star Construction Development Corporation’s (BSDC) alleged failure to fulfill its commitments.

“The protection and conservation of the environment and our natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations of Filipinos is a sacred duty entrusted to our leaders,” he wrote.

“Congress must take the initiative to hear all sides, with a view to facilitating a smooth and orderly resolution of the dispute, if feasible,” he wrote.

Accordingly, Cayetano said the DENR had accused the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, Inc. (MGFI) — a group linked to BSDC and tasked with managing 2,700 hectares of land, including Masungi — of turning the area into a commercial tourism site instead of a housing development area.

MGFI rejected the accusation, saying DENR is at fault for failing to remove illegal occupants and claiming the cancellation was part of a larger effort to weaken environmental protections.

“It is imperative that the government, the private sector, and other stakeholders squarely confront this legal quandary in which the Masungi Georeserve finds itself,” he stated.