By Gabriela Baron
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said it plans to build a new headquarters at the Masungi Georeserve in Tanay, Rizal.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, about 20 officials from BuCor held an ocular inspection of the relocation site of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) at the geopark.
BuCor said it plans to develop a 270-hectare property in Tanay to put up a headquarters and residential sites for BuCor employees.
“We need to transfer some office and some of our facilities there, but not the prison colony. Hindi kami maglilipat ng inmates o [persons deprived of liberty,” BuCor Director Gen. Gregoria Catapang Jr. said.
Home to fragile limestone formations
However, stakeholders of the Masungi Georeserve expressed alarm over the sudden ocular inspection by personnel of BuCor.
“Nagulat kami kasi conservation and development [ang] area. It’s part of protected areas, it’s a model globally for the kind of management. We wish for that to be respected definitely,” Ann Dumaliang, co-founder of Masungi Georeserve, said.
Dumaliang said the site being eyed as a relocation site is “home to the fragile limestone formations” and included in conservation efforts under the Masungi Geopark Project between the Masungi Georeserve Foundation and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through a valid and binding memorandum of agreement signed by then Environment Secretary Gina Lopez in 2017.
She added that in 2009, then DENR Chief Lito Atienza issued a memorandum to the DENR regional director to submit an alternative area for the NBP since the site is already subject to private rights.
“The site is mountainous and geologically unbuildable. The development will be financially prohibitive,” Dumaliang said.
Scientists from the National Museum of the Philippines previously noted that developing the area will have “expensive consequences” for the environment.
Dumaliang asked for the “urgent intervention” of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Justice, and the DENR.
“There are many viable alternative sites elsewhere. Masungi is a priceless legacy of the nation that should be preserved at all costs instead of destroyed,” she continued.
“The Masungi Geopark Project is at the forefront of the Philippines’ climate change agenda to enable effective, nature-based solutions involving the private sector, civil society, and communities,” she added.
BuCor reiterates claim as owner of site
In a statement, BuCor however, reiterated that it remains as the owner of the property, which is being claimed by the Masungi Georeserve.
“BuCor is the registered owner of the subject property by virtue of the transfer certificate of title issued in favor of BuCor,” Catapang said.
“Being the registered owner of the subject property, BuCor has all the right to conduct any activity in the area, including the questioned ocular inspection that was conducted by our personnel,” he added.
The relocation site will also be used “for the sustainment of its basic institutional food requirements.” – With reports from Louisa Erispe-ag
