DILG reiterates Masungi Georeserve a protected forest reserve

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) over the weekend reiterated that the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal is a protected forest reserve, even as the Special Action Forces in the area are leaving due to downsizing.

According to DILG secretary Benhur Abalos, the DILG is awaiting guidance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) over the ownership of the area, following reports of an anomalous turnover by the police to a private individual.

While the Special Action Forces in the area will be downsized, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of Region 4A or Calabarzon will be assisting in patrolling the area moving forward.

“This is a protected forest reserve. Until kung anong sabihin ng DENR kung ito ba ay dapat may-aring ibang tao or what, until that is ano [resolved], the order is for us to make sure that this is preserved of course for the government itong lugar na ito,” he said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(This is a protected forest reserve. Until the DENR decides if someone else owns it or what, until that is resolved, the order is for us to make sure that this area is preserved, of course for the government.)

Masungi Georeserve managing trustee Ann Dumaliang said the presence of authorities in the area is necessary, as there have been reports of harassment by entities attempting to grab the property.

“Napakahalaga na mayroon tayong kapulisan. ‘Yung ating rangers na nakakaranas ng harassment mula sa mga land speculators dito, pati na rin doon sa mga resort na nagtatangkang kumuha ng lupa kahit walang dokumento,” she said in the same report.

(It is very important that we have police. We have rangers that experience harassment from land speculators here, even resorts that attempt to grab the land even without documents.) — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News