By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Tuesday assured that no penal facility would be built in the agency’s 270-hectare lot in Masungi Georeserve in Tanay, Rizal.
In a statement, Catapang said what is being planned is for the construction of a detachment for forest rangers that will secure the lot under BuCor’s jurisdiction.
“We have an obligation and responsibilities in the conservation of the area as part of national heritage and we are one with the Filipino people in preserving our natural resources,” he said, adding the BuCor is committed not to use the Masungi property for any purpose that will adversely affect the ecology and sustainability of the area.
He said there are about 20 to 30 hectares out of the 270 hectares of “vacant spaces” at the bottom part of the Masungi that can be used for the forest ranger detachment without disturbing the landscape of the area.
“The bureau with proper coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will also conduct a delineation survey sometime next month, but do not misconstrue this to anything because we only want to determine the metes and bounds of BuCor Property that we need to secure,” Catapang said.
BuCor issued the statement after Senator Loren Legarda asked the agency not to build facilities in its legally-owned property in the area.
The 270-hectare Masungi property was awarded to the BuCor in 2006 through Proclamation No. 1158 signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
