A Masungi Georeserve eviction dispute is unfolding after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) canceled its agreement with Blue Star Construction. Alongside this decision, the agency has ordered Masungi Georeserve to vacate its 300-hectare site, escalating tensions over the area’s conservation efforts.
Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Norlito Eneran made the announcement on Friday, March 7. He cited contract violations and the project’s failure to follow the bidding process.
“In the signed letter of cancellation, we state that one of the contracts, specifically the 2002 supplemental agreement, is canceled,” Eneran said.
With this cancellation, Blue Star must vacate the Masungi Georeserve within 15 days. The DENR delivered the notice to the company’s office on Friday.
Masungi Foundation Pushes Back
Masungi Georeserve Foundation said it has not yet received the eviction notice. The group expected this move and plans to take legal action.
It argues that its work helps protect the country’s forests from illegal activities. The foundation also pointed out that Masungi is a nonprofit. It charges visitors fees to fund conservation efforts, not for profit.
Ann Dumaliang, one of its trustees, stressed that Blue Star’s housing project never materialized. She said their agreements prioritized conservation above all.
“Our family, through Blue Star, chose to work with the government to close these gaps, investing in its restoration rather than taking the easier path of a low-risk, high-reward traditional housing development,” Dumaliang said.
DENR Investigation Findings
The DENR’s investigation found multiple violations in the agreements with Blue Star. These include:
- Charging entrance fees at Masungi, despite no approval in the Masungi Rock Eco-Tourism Plan.
- Building structures without proper permits.
- Fencing off parts of the site, specifically “Lot 10.”
- Blocking access to DENR inspectors.
- Failing to finish the housing project despite receiving deadline extensions.
Eneran also flagged legal defects in the 2002 agreement. No housing units were built as promised, and the project bypassed procurement rules.
Some DENR officials involved in the stalled project are now under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.
How the Housing Project Started
The joint venture started in 1997. Blue Star planned to build 5,000 housing units on a 130-hectare site. The goal was to complete it within five years.
In 2002, a supplemental deal expanded the project. The plan grew to 300 hectares, covering Lot 10, a property under the Bureau of Corrections (BOC). Another 5,000 units were planned there.
The project was extended in 2006. Two years later, Blue Star and DENR agreed to swap the original 5,000 units for 145 completed units in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Masungi’s Conservation Work
Lot 10 is part of the Upper Marikina River Basin Watershed. It holds unique limestone formations and diverse plant and animal species.
The Masungi Georeserve Foundation has been restoring the area since 2017. Under a deal with DENR, it committed to rehabilitating 2,700 hectares. So far, it has restored 2,000 hectares.
Masungi has received global recognition for its efforts. It recently won the 2024 National Energy Globe Award.
However, the foundation has faced legal threats and disinformation. The DENR already announced plans last year to cancel the 2017 agreement, calling it unconstitutional.
Despite this, Masungi vows to keep fighting for conservation.
“It should not be overlooked that the initial agreements under Blue Star played a crucial role in shielding the area from incompatible interferences, allowing reforestation efforts to take root and thrive,” Dumaliang said.
For now, the dispute continues.
