Park rangers show visitors the landscape in Baras, Rizal from the “Sapot” at the Masungi Georeserve on October 24, 2019. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA (UPDATED) — Three lawmakers have urged caution on  the government's move to cancel its agreement with Blue Star Corp., the longtime developer and conservation partner of Masungi Georeserve in Rizal, with one warning the move could signal the entry of commercial interests.

On Friday, Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced that it was cancelling its 2002 agreement with Blue Star over alleged "illegality" in the contract

 It also demanded that Blue Star vacate the 300-hectare land in Baras where the Masungi Geopark is located.

The DENR, in a letter to Blue Star owner Ben Dumaliang, said the cancellation of the supplemental agreement was due to several issues, including a supposed failure to implement a housing project planned for the site.

Masungi Georeserve however said the government chose "to go after those protecting our forests instead of those destroying them" by cancelling the deal and that the housing project fell through because of government failure to clear the area of illegal structures.

"Throughout the years, Blue Star never failed to communicate the importance and urgency for the DENR to deliver its obligations under the contract. When DENR failed to act, Blue Star continued to take care of the project site and even restored the Masungi Georeserve ecosystem within it," it said Saturday.

In a statement, Sen. Nancy Binay said the decision seems to have been made haphazardly.

"Nakakabahala na basta na lamang magdedesisyon ang DENR na walang nakahandang malinaw na plano o mga personnel man lamang na may kakayanang bantayan at protektahan ang Masungi," she said on Facebook.

(It is worrying that the DENR just decided on this without a clear plan or even designation of personnel to watch over and protect Masungi)

Masungi Georeserve Foundation, which has reforested and developed the area, has park rangers to watch over the site, sometimes at personal risk to their safety.

Two Masungi park rangers wounded after allegedly being shot

Binay called for a “win-win” solution to the dispute between the Masungi foundation and the DENR as well as a “cure” to the legal issues the environment department has raised.

“Protected areas like this are crucial for biodiversity, water and climate action,” she said.

'DENR TREATING ALLY AS ENEMY'

In a statement, Rep. Raoul Manuel said Kabataan Party-List condemns the DENR’s decision, and for painting Masungi Georeserve Foundation as an “enemy.”

Manuel said that DENR had avoided dialogue with the foundation to settle issues and had said it would wait for a recommendation from the House after hearings on the issue.

“Pero kahit wala pang pormal na rekomendasyon ang Kamara, makaisang-panig na pinutol ng DENR ang kasunduan nito sa Masungi Georeserve Foundation,” he said.

(But even without a formal recommendation from the House, DENR unilaterally cancelled its agreement with Masungi Georeserve Foundation)

“Sa kabilang banda, pinoprotektahan ng mga kawani ng DENR ang mga iligal na resort na nagsulputan sa protected area,” he also said as he alleged that department officials have sided with quarrying operations and big companies that want to enter the reserve.

(Meanwhile, DENR officials protect illegal resorts that have sprouted in the protected area)

'AN ATTACK ON CONSERVATION'

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro in a statement also condemned Blue Star's eviction and called it a "brazen attack on environmental conservation."

DENR cancels deal with Masungi developer, orders them to vacate area

Castro suggested that the move was a step toward to opening the protected area to commercial interests. "What is DENR's real plan? To save nature or sell it to wealthy developers?" she added.

Former ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said in the same statement that the DENR's actions contradict its mandate as the primary agency responsible for environmental protection.

He noted that the conservation work of the Masungi Georeserve has been "exemplary" and even earned multiple international awards and recognition.

"In just a few years, Masungi has transformed from a degraded area threatened by illegal logging, quarrying, and land-grabbing to a model of conservation," he said.

"They've planted over 100,000 native trees, protected endangered species, and provided sustainable livelihoods for local communities. Destroying this success story would be an environmental crime."

FOR USE BY BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS?

Castro and Tinio added that the eviction of Blue Star could be connected to previous attempts by the Bureau of Corrections to use the protected area for its new headquarters.

"We've already opposed BuCor's plan to build its headquarters in Masungi, and now we see this move to evict the current conservation managers," Castro said. "Hindi maaaring maging coincidence lang ito. May mas malaking plano na hindi isinisiwalat sa publiko."

(This cannot just be a coincidence. There is a bigger plan that is not being disclosed to the public.)

Tinio meanwhile called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intervene in the issue to demonstrate government's commitment to the environment.

The two said ACT Teachers party-list would file a resolution at the House of Representatives to investigate the DENR's "sudden" eviction notice.

Statements of support for Masungi from Congress join those from groups Angat Taytay and Tanay Youth Vote urging DENR to sit down with Masungi for a resolution of their issues.