Nancy Binay: Masungi Georeserve not ideal for new BuCor headquarters

Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday said it is not ideal to build the new facility of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) at the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal.

During her ocular inspection, Binay questioned the location of the BuCor project over its possible cost and as well as the terrain of the area.

“Noong una kong nakita, paano magtatayo yung Bilibid dito? Yung cost lang. Puro bangin. Alangan naman na putulin nila yung bundok para tayuan ng kulungan,” she told reporters in an ambush interview.

(My first impression was how would they build a Bilibid prison here? Imagine the cost. It is mountainous. It is inappropriate for them to cut the mountain so they can build the jail.)

“Space-wise parang yung lupa dito sa Masungi, hindi siya ideal to construct whether its a Bilibid or anong facility. Parang hindi angkop doon sa terrian ng lupa,” added Binay, chairperson of the Senate tourism committee.

(Space-wise, the terrain here in Masungi is not ideal for the construction of a Bilibid prison or facility. It seems inappropriate for the terrain.)

Binay pointed out that it would be more fitting if the Department of Tourism would build a facility in the area.

In February, Binay filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the reported plan of the BuCor to build a new headquarters at Masungi involving 270 hectares of land.

Binay said she would set another ocular inspection at Masungi and will invite other government officials.

BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. earlier said the bureau is deferring its plan to transfer its headquarters to Masungi pending further studies on its impact on the environment.

Binay said she would explore ways to ensure that succeeding BuCor leaderships will have the same direction as Catapang in the future.

“Hindi talaga tayo papayag na ma-convert yung (I will not allow to convert the) property to something else. This area was meant to be an eco-tourism destination,” she said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News