MANILA — The Masungi Georeserve Foundation (MGF) challenged Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to visit Masungi to see for herself where the conservation fees collected from visitors go.

This, following the agency’s response to an Instagram post by Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio calling on government to protect the important ecosystem in the area.

In a statement, the DENR said while it appreciates the concern of international personalities for the Philippine environment, it reiterated that “no one is exempt from the law.”

“The Filipino people own the area occupied by Masungi Georeserve Foundation and the operation of resort venues that charge the public for day tours, meetings, and weddings remains non-compliant with Philippine laws,” the statement read.

In 2023, the department said that it recommended the cancellation of a 2017 Memorandum of Agreement granting the MGF perpetual land trust for conservation, because of certain provisions that supposedly violate the Constitution.

DENR eyes scrapping Masungi Georeserve deal over 'unconstitutional' provision

“Secretary Yulo said in a hearing that she is planning to cancel the agreement because it is null and void. No one can declare it null and void but the courts. There is a process to declare it such. They should submit to the legal process,” said Billie Dumaliang, MGF’s Director for Advocacy.

Dumaliang said they continue to implement reforestation efforts in Masungi.

“Kami lang ang humaharang sa encroachments ng mga quarries, encroachment ng resorts, ng swimming pools katulad ng sa Chocolate Hills. Kami lang ang nararamadamang humaharang sa kanila. So if mawala kami diyan, babalik yung mga lugar na yun sa kamay ng ibang may interes sa lugar.”

(We are the only ones standing against encroachment by quarries, resorts, and swimming pools like the one in Chocolate Hills. So if we are taken out of there, those who have great interest in building such structures will return.)

Aside from DiCaprio, other international personalities have also lent their voice to amplify the need to protect the karst environment. 

Among them are world renowned conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, climate justice advocate Greta Thunberg, and rock icon Sting.

Masungi, Dumaliang explained, is considered a nearby forest to Metro Manila. Such landscapes are important as they aid in decreasing warm temperatures.

“The heat index in Masungi is actually 5 degrees lower and if you go near lime stones, they can be even lower. That is the immediate impact of forests and lime stones.”

Aside from mitigating heat, nearby forests also help regulate floods and flow of water.

“If forests are not restored we will even be more vulnerable to the destruction of properties,” Dumaliang said.

MGF said the last bastion of the Marikina watershed is so important that it has been visited by local governments in the hopes of replicating the sustainable tourism methods in the area in their own localities.