Members of the press join representatives from the Makabayan Bloc during a courtesy visit at the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal on February 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANIILA — The Masungi Georeserve Inc. on Thursday denied that it was invited to an event of the environment department, which figured in the heated exchange between Senators Raffy Tulfo and Cynthia Villar. 

Tulfo on Tuesday said he, Villar and the agency should take a lie detector test to show who was telling the truth over the absence of Masungi representatives at the event, where two “quarriers” were present. 

‘Bakit sila andyan?’: Tulfo grills DENR over 2 guests at agency event

“Never po kaming nakatanggap ng kahit anong imbitasyon sa DENR para sa Project Transform [event] na ito,” Masungi project manager and management trustee Ann Dumaliang told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.  

“Nakakapagtaka na may ganitong claim, pero sa totoo lang, hindi rin very surprising dahil may pattern sila of doing this for every sinasabi nilang ‘multi-stakeholder group’ na may kinalaman sa lugar.”  

Villar had said the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) would provide Tulfo a copy of the invitation sent to Masungi. 

Dumaliang said, “Hihintayin namin kung anong dokumento ang ire-reproduce nila  para magpresenta nito. Sana i-verify ni Sen. Cynthia Villar kung sinong nagpapasa ng mga maling impormasyon na ito.” 

She added that the two individuals invited to the DENR event were stopped in 2021 from leveling down some 1,000 hectares of the Marikina Watershed.   

“Nakakapagtaka na napaka-aggressive nila na malagay dito sa Project Transform na sinasabi ni Secretary Yulo na papalit daw sa amin kapag kami ay pinatanggal na, at yung komposisyon nito ay mga quarry na may interes sa lugar na ito, na black and white, illegal ang interes sa lugar na ito,” the conservationist added.

Project Transform is a multi-stakeholder partnership model that aims to engage local governments in environment governance, according to the DENR website. 

Leonardo DiCaprio supports call to protect Masungi Georeserve

“Yun nga po yung nakakalungkot doon kasi napaka-glaring ng double standard. Mahigit 20 taon na naming pinapangalagaan yung lugar, kami pa yung nagsisiwalat ng mga maling bagay, mga maling aktibidad. Dapat kaakibat namin ang DENR,” Dumaliang said.

Dumalian said she hoped Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga could visit Masungi, as it fought the possible cancellation of its pact with the DENR for the conservation of 2,700 hectares of forested land.   

A team from the DENR had recommended canceling the 2017 deal with the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. due to a supposed unconstitutional provision. 

DENR eyes scrapping Masungi Georeserve deal over 'unconstitutional' provision

DENR Calabarzon regional director Nilo Tamoria noted that portions of the Masungi Geopark overlap with areas covered by previously issued proclamations and an ancestral domain title. He said there was “no complete staff” in drafting the deal.

Masungi says conservation deal 'valid' unless canceled by court

In the last few years, the area where Masungi lies has become a popular destination for tourists due to its scenic mountain vistas and cool climate. Many commercial establishments have cropped up in this area, which is also known as the Marilaque Highway, to cater to the influx of tourists.

Masungi Georeserve was honored at the 2024 World Economic Forum and awarded the 2022 UN Sustainable Development Goals Action Campaign Inspire Awards for its exemplary ecosystem restoration practices. 

The Dumaliang sisters Ann and Billie have been recognized among TIME Magazine's 2024 Next Generation Leaders for their work protecting the georeserve.