Partylist rep inspects Masungi Georeserve area for planned BuCor HQ

A Kabataan Party-list representative visited the area in the Masungi Georeserve where the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) planned to build a new headquarters.

According to Chino Gaston's "24 Oras Weekend" report, Kabataan Representative Raoul Manuel visited the 270 hectares of forest that allegedly belonged to the BuCor.

“Di natin maisip kung paano mags-set up yung BuCor dito dahil nga ‘yung tahi nya ay hindi naman ganun kadali na mag-construct ng structures” said Manuel.

(We can't figure out how the BuCor is going to set up here because the it won't be easy to build structures in the spot.)

The party-list rep would present his observations in the next House committee hearing on the matter.

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation meanwhile said that building the BuCor's headquarter's in the reserve would waste decades of reforestation and conservation efforts.

“We want to ask also for the President to help, so that makapili ng tamang lupain para sa BuCor, at saka hindi naman makompromiso yung konserbasyon na alam kong isang pillar din naman ang adminstrasyong ito,” said Anne Dumaliang, Masungi Georeserve Foundation Trustee.

(We want ask the President for help so they can find the right place for the BuCor, and not compromise the conservation effort that I know is one of the policies of this administration.)

“Hindi lang ito basta bastang nakatenggang lupain, these are green infrustructures,” she stressed.

(This isn't just idle land, these are green infrastructures.)

Aside from the environmental damage, the foundation also fears its effect on Masungi tourism.

On Friday, Senator Nancy Binay filed a resolution that tasks the Senate committee on tourism to investigate BuCor's plan.

However, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said last Monday the plan is not yet final. — DVM, GMA Integrated News