Paglilipat ng BuCor sa Masungi Georeserve, pinaimbestigahan ni Binay

Paglilipat ng BuCor sa Masungi Georeserve, pinaimbestigahan ni Binay

February 25, 2023 @ 3:00 PM 1 month ago


MANILA, Philippines- Naghain ng isang resolusyon si Senador Nancy Binay na naglalayong paiimbestigahan ang napaulat na plano ng Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) na magtayo ng baong headquarters sa loob Masungi Georeserve sa Rizal.

Inaatasan ng Senate Resolution No. 495 ang Senate committee on tourism na kanyang pinamumunuan upang imbestigahan ang plano ng BuCor.

“The Masungi georeserve is a symbol of sustainable development and at the forefront of efforts to conserve, restore, and improve the environment in the face of climate change, which must be protected by the government and private sector at all cost,” ayon kay Binay sa resolusyon.

“While the initiatives of the Bucor to have a new headquarters and housing for its personnel is reasonable, it is important to weigh the possible consequences of building its headquarters in an Ecotourism site like the Masungi Georeserve, which may affect the environment and tourism in the country,” dagdag ng senador.

Binanggit ni Binay sa resolusyon ang pahayag ni Ann Dumaiang, co-founder ng Masungi Georeserve na nagsasabing nakapaloob ang relokasyon ng BuCor sa maselang limestone formation at kasama sa konserbasyon nan isinasagawa ng Masungi Geopark Project sa pagitan ng Masungi Georeserve Foundation at Department of Environment and Natural Resources, sa pamamagitan ng balido at binding memorandum og agreement na nilagdaan ni dating DENR Secretary Gina Lopez noong 2017.

Sinabi pa ni Binay ang posisyon ng siyentipiko mula sa National Museum of the Philippines na nagsasabing kapag ginalaw at ginawang relocation site ang lugar, magkakaroon ng matinding epekto sa kapaligiran.

Noong nakarang linggo, sinabi ni BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. na nakatakda silang magtayo ng bagong headquarter sa lupain sa Tanay, Rizal na sinasabing nasasakupan ng Masungi Georeserve.

Ayon kay Catapang, hindi pagtatayuan ng New Bilibid Prison ang 270 ektaryang lupain doon.

Ipinalabas ng ahensiya ang pahayag matapos manawagan ang Masungi Georeserve na makialam si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, at Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga matapos magsagawa ng ocular inspection ang BuCor bilang relocation site ng NBP sa lugar.

“The Georserve said that the BuCor personnel bore a title for over 270 hectares in the name of the BuCor, while the remaining 30 hectares were under the DENR,” ayon sa resolution.

Ayon kay Catapang: ”BuCor is the registered owner of the property, and it “has all the right to conduct any activity in the area, including the questioned ocular inspection.”

Ayon kay Catapang, pag-aari ng BuCor ang ari-arian alinsunod sa transfer certificate issued noong September 2006 sa ilalim ng Presidential Proclamation 1158.

Inihayag naman ng Masungi Georeserve Foundation nan kailangan tinatangga ang pagkilala ni Catapang sa conservation effort ng foundation.

“It is with this mindset and encouragement that we appeal to him to deem the environment as central to all issues and reconsider BuCor’s plans,” ayon sa foundation.

“We also call on President Bongbong Marcos, DENR Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga, and DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla to aid in this matter in the interest of the Philippines’ natural heritage,” dagdag nito.

Ayon naman kay Remulla, hindi pa pinal ang planong pagtatayo ng bagonfg BuCor headquarter sa Tanay. Ernie Reyes