The Masungi Georeserve Foundation has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intervene following the issuance of an eviction notice by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to its conservation partner, Blue Star, threatening the continuation of conservation efforts in the protected landscape.
According to a statement released by the foundation, Blue Star has received a 15-day notice from the DENR ordering its eviction from Lot 10, the site of the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal province.
The foundation warned that the “abrupt decision threatens not only years of dedicated forest restoration, wildlife protection, and sustainable geotourism but also the livelihoods of up to 100 hardworking rangers and their families who have committed their lives to protecting Masungi.”
The foundation emphasized that the eviction order undermines the legal and physical safeguards established to protect Masungi’s lands.
“Any precipitous action to enforce the same, and even just the threat of it, can only embolden entities who have boldly asserted illegal claims in Lot 10 that Blue Star has assiduously resisted through the years to ensure the land is not lost,” the statement read.
Masungi, located within the southern Sierra Madre mountain range and adjacent to the Upper Marikina Watershed, serves as a vital environmental buffer against natural disasters.
“The Sierra Madre, as well as the adjacent Upper Marikina Watershed, serves as a natural shield against typhoons and extreme weather, helping to reduce the impact of floods and landslides, which endanger countless communities,” the foundation said.
In its appeal, the foundation urged President Marcos Jr. to reconsider the eviction notice, citing the historical significance of the legal protections in place.
“We plead with President Marcos Jr. to intervene. The very laws that protect Masungi’s lands were put in place during his father’s administration, recognizing the importance of conservation for the nation’s future,” it said.
The foundation called on the government to “pause and review the DENR’s eviction order to allow for a fair and thorough review” and to “engage in open dialogue with all stakeholders to find a just and sustainable path forward.”
