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BIRD'S EYE VIEW. Limestone formations seen from Sapot ni Ric at Masungi Georeserve in Tanay, Rizal.
Following the cancellation of the 2002 contract, Masungi Georeserve is appealing to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for intervention
MANILA, Philippines – Masungi Georeserve developer Blue Star Construction Development Corporation is calling for due process after it received the eviction notice that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued on March 7.
To recall, DENR canceled its 2002 contract with Blue Star over non-completion of a housing project in the area where the Masungi Georeserve now stands. Blue Star is the private sector partner of the government in a housing project that dates back to 1997.
Blue Star received the eviction notice on Monday, March 17.
The firm said it is now determining the legal steps to take and will respond through “proper channels” in due time.
“We urge all stakeholders to engage with fairness and responsibility — ensuring that discussions remain rooted in verified facts, a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, and the protection of integrity of public-private partnerships,” Blue Star said in a statement on Wednesday, March 19.
DENR’s cancellation order follows years of investigations, failed negotiations, and public spats among concerned parties. The notice gives Blue Star 15 days to leave the 300-hectare property.
Meanwhile, Masungi Georeserve has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intervene. In a previous statement on March 7, Masungi called out the DENR, saying the agency was “at fault” for not clearing out illegal occupants in the area where the housing project should have been built.
Masungi said the government must review the DENR order “to allow for a fair and thorough review” and it should “engage in open dialogue with all stakeholders.”
“The order undermines the efforts of those on the frontlines of forest protection, making it harder to defend against illegal activities that threaten our forests and watersheds,” Masungi said in a separate statement Monday.
Blue Star was founded by Ben Dumaliang, whose daughters manage Masungi Georeserve. The geotourism site is renowned around the world for its conservation efforts in the Upper Marikina Watershed.
Aside from the 2002 contract, Masungi undertook another contract with the government in 2017 which conferred on them the right to conserve 2,700 hectares of public land in Rizal province.
– Rappler.com
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