The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Rose de la Cruz
The Masungi Georeserve in Rizal will be the Marcos administration’s litmus test on its commitment to either environmental conservation and preservation or its hunger for foreign investments regardless of possible destruction to the environment.
If it upholds the eviction of the foundation that has been reforesting and conserving the the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges,, often referred as the “backbone of Luzon” by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in favor of 12 wind farms to be set up there by Vena Energy of Singapore, then this would look like it salivates and embraces more the financial investment regardless of its destructiveness to the ecology of the reserve over that of conserving this proclaimed “strict nature reserve” and “wildlife sanctuary,” which has received numerous global awards and recognitions for its preservation for the future generations of Filipinos.
Should it decide in favor of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, then it would leave a bad image about the country’s foreign investments and energy development programs for favoring the preservation of its restored status. Whichever way, a price must be paid.
The foundation, which took on the reforestation and rehabilitation work since the 1990s wrote the President asking 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.”
Early this month, the DENR announced that it has scrapped its 2002 Supplemental Agreement with Blue Star due to alleged issues on legality and failure to execute terms within the contract.
In a separate statement Wednesday, Blue Star Construction and Development Corp. said it is now reviewing possible legal remedies after it received the notice from DENR cancelling the over two-decade-old deal and ordering it to vacate the premises of the conservation project in Rizal.
It said the 2002 Supplemental Joint Venture Agreement “played a significant role in the establishment of the Masungi Georeserve.”
The DENR is also demanding “with finality” that Blue Star vacate the premises covered by the agreement, particularly the 300-hectare area where the Masungi Georeserve conservation project is located, GMA 7 News reported..
“The notice was received at our official address via registered mail on Monday, 17 March 2025,” Blue Star said.
“We have referred the document to our legal counsel, who are carefully reviewing the matter to determine the appropriate legal steps,” it continued.
The property firm added that it will respond to the matter “in due course through the proper channels.”
In cancelling its joint venture deal with Blue Star, the DENR enumerated these reasons:
- Lack of required Presidential Proclamation declaring the subject matter of the contract for housing purposes
- No document to prove that the proposed construction went through regular procurement or bidding process
- Failure to deliver the 5,000-unit Garden Cottages housing project within five years from signing on November 15, 2002
Blue Star, nevertheless, called on 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.”
“We call for justice to be upheld, ensuring that this matter is resolved with fairness and accountability for the benefit of the environment, the communities who depend on it, and the generations to come,” Blue Star said.
“For decades, Blue Star has been a faithful private-sector partner in advancing high-quality, sustainable development and innovative engineering, as well as safeguarding the country’s natural heritage,” it added.
The Masungi Georeserve is a conservation project in Rizal that has won international awards including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) Action Award for Inspire Category in 2022.
In appealing to the President, Masungi Georeserve Foundation said the laws that protect Masungi’s lands were put in place during his father’s (Marcos Sr) administration.
“Masungi stands as a beacon of conservation success in the Philippines, proving that public-private partnerships can restore degraded landscapes and protect our natural heritage. With the President’s leadership, we believe a fair and transparent solution will be reached for the benefit of all Filipinos,” the foundation said.
It said the DENR decision threatens not only years of dedicated forest restoration, wildlife protection, and sustainable geotourism but also the livelihoods of up to 100 rangers and their families who have committed their lives to protecting Masungi.
“This eviction order weakens the very safeguards designed 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,” it added.
It further said the order undermines the efforts of those on the frontlines of forest protection, making it harder to defend against illegal activities that threaten forests and watersheds.
The foundation said Masungi is not just a conservation project as it plays a crucial role in
“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.”