Photo shows limestone formations at Masungi Georeserve located at the southern portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Baras, Rizal taken on February 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file 

MANILA — Imagine the limestones of the Masungi Georeserve, now revered as a popular tourist destination thanks to meticulous and sustainable development, adorned with even richer greenery, destined to be cherished by future generations.

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Now, picture a starkly different scenario: renowned limestone formations of the reserve lie toppled; the once sprawling green landscape marred by bald patches. Amidst this scene stand towering wind turbines, offering renewable energy, yet at the cost of one of the nation's most esteemed treasures.

Masungi Georeserve Foundation (MGF) co-founder Billie Dumaliang fears that this image may turn into a grim reality for the conservation site, should their recent discovery of drilling rigs in different parts of Masungi, through the use of drones, continue operations. 

Photos taken by the MGF’s drone revealed the company behind the drilling rigs as Rizal Wind Energy Corporation (RWEC), owned by Singapore-based Vena Energy.

“Once we saw these drone photography, we reached out immediately to their representatives. We had two meetings where we learned of their plans. They were the ones who said the plan of building 12 wind turbines and they are now in the advanced pre-development stage,” she said.

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However, Dumaliang, citing a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order, explained that “mining applications and all applications for commercial or industrial projects shall not be accepted.”

The Administrative Order, issued back in May 10, 1993, declared the Masungi Rock as “closed to mining location, exploration, development and exploitation and other activities which might affect adversely the habitat and the ecological balance in the area.”

“As far as we know, this AO has not been repealed. It (drilling) should have been stopped in the first place. Hindi na dapat mag-entertain ng ganitong application.” (An application for this should not be entertained.)

Dumaliang added that during their meetings with representatives of Vena Energy, they presented National Museum reports of Masungi on biological and geological fronts.

“We presented legal history. We didn’t see interest from the company and they did not express any interest in relocating the farm. In fact, they have said na, ‘We already put in money.’” Nag-invest na rin daw sila. (They already invested). Disappointing that Vena Energy seems to not take these facts into consideration. These facts are undeniable,” she said.

ABS-CBN News has reached out to Vena Energy to seek clarification from MGF’s findings. A staff from their Philippine office said the request for a statement has been relayed to their officials.

This, according to Dumaliang, is just the latest in a string of activities that threaten the karst ecosystem whose limestone formation date back many centuries.

RICH IN BIODIVERSITY AND HERITAGE

One of the Masungi Georeserve's most renowned attractions is "Sapot ni Ric" (Ric's Web), a captivating feature crafted from intricately woven ropes atop limestone formations, resembling the intricate structure of a spider's web.

But this isn’t the only treasure Masungi has. It is also home to some 500 species of flora and fauna, some of which are endangered amid the karst environment that consists of limestone, caves, and sinkholes.

“There are a lot of very rare species in Masungi: JC’s vine (a rare blue plant whose blooms resemble sharp teeth), the Philippine serpent eagle. We even have our snail subspecies and cloud rats. Recently, we spotted falcons and raptors.”

Beyond the vibrant tapestry of life flourishing within Masungi, conservationists like Dumaliang persevere in their efforts to safeguard its pristine beauty, driven by the knowledge that its limestone formations stand as the oldest natural wonders in the country.

The limestone formations of Masungi Georeserve were formed underwater during the Paleocene era or about 60 million years ago – the period following the extinction of dinosaurs.

“Meron siyang national significance or even international significance. Irreplaceable ‘yan. Mas matanda pa ‘yan than the Pyramids (of Giza) or Machu Picchu. Importante siya sa science because it’s the largest exposed limestone from that age in the Philippines,” Dumaliang explains.

(It has national significance, international even. It’s irreplaceable. It’s much older than the Giza pyramids or Machu Picchu. It’s important to science because it’s the largest exposed limestone from that age in the Philippines.)

The MGF asserted that its significance as the gateway to the Sierra Mountain Range, a crucial barrier shielding Luzon from severe weather, coupled with its intrinsic ecological value, provides compelling grounds for safeguarding Masungi against encroachment of commercial and industrial interests.

Should these completely circumvent existing policies that aim to protect and preserve Masungi, Dumaliang fears that it would pave the way for even greater destruction to this national treasure.

POSSIBLE SCENARIO

Dumaliang said imagining what might potentially happen to Masungi, should the construction of a wind farm push through, is not rocket science.

While wind turbines may seem to occupy little space on where they stand, constructing them is a completely different matter.

A similar development in Panay Island shows the environmental impact of building a wind farm.

In photos shared by MGF, massive road constructions now draw a stretch of bare land in North Panay Peninsula Natural Park. 

The wind power project has caused irreversible damage and now threatens the natural habitat of the critically endangered bleeding heart pigeon.

“With massive road construction to cater to this wind farm, there will be habitat loss, there will be clearing of forests, and there might be siltation of water and waterways, even contamination is possible.”

“Sobrang lalaki ng mga ito (These are really big) and each windmill will probably require more than one hectare of clearing. Kasi I think you cannot grow a forest under a windmill. (I don’t think you can grow a forest under a windmill).”

Dumaliang emphasized that their stance isn't anti-renewable energy.

As an advocate of climate change resilience, she underscores the crucial necessity for renewable energy in the country. But she maintains this imperative shouldn't overshadow the fundamental principle of conserving the natural environment.

“Kung hindi ka magkakaroon ng responsible site selection, hindi rin uubra. At tinatawag natin itong false solution to climate change. That’s why I’m challenging this company because we expect more of them as part of civil society and the private sector.”

(If responsible site selection will not be carried out, it will not work. We call this a false solution to climate change.)

THE FIGHT FOR PRESERVATION CONTINUES

While the construction of wind turbines in Masungi remains in the early stages, the MGF says it will continue informing the public of the issues hounding it, coupled with the beauty it has willingly offered to tourists for many years.

Tourism in Masungi, according to Dumaliang, has been a powerful tool to spread awareness and the strong need to preserve it.

What they are particularly proud of is how a natural formation like Masungi can be developed into something that is at par with other tourist sites without having to change or remove anything — the perfect example of sustainable development. 

“No equipment was brought to develop Masungi. It’s all ropes, steps, and hanging bridges. Nothing was destroyed. We’ve enhanced the character of the place rather than placing it with something that is out of character.”

The challenge they pose to those behind the drilling rigs is to find an alternative location for the wind farm which they stand to earn from.

“There is a project in Pililla (Rizal) where Vena Energy was also involved but it wasn’t on a karst landscape. So probably that was a good location. But the status and conditions are different when it comes to Masungi.”

The protected area has, in recent years, basked in triumph over those that threaten it. For one, quarrying sites which were revealed in 2020 were ordered cancelled several years later. But Dumaliang and many others among her ranks vow to continue to stand guard against other threats like land use conversion, land grabbing, and professional squatting.

She stressed, however, that the fight for the preservation of the Masungi Georeserve is something that all Filipinos should collectively share.

“Kailangan ipaglaban ito ng Pilipino dahil ang ating Masungi limestone formation ay pagmamay-ari ng lahat ng Pilipino. Isa siyang national treasure that we can all we proud of, na kilala sa buong mundo. Kung hindi ito protektahan isang malaking bahagi ng identity as a Filipino people both in the past and in the future, will be gone. That is never a good thing for the country,” Dumaliang said.

(Every Filipino must fight for the Masungi limestone formation because we own it. It’s a renowned national treasure that we can all be proud of. If we don’t protect it, a huge part of our identity as Filipinos, both in the past and in the future, will be gone. That is never a good thing for the country.)