Tulfo tells DENR to tap confidential funds to protect Masungi

Considered as one of the last green frontiers near Metro Manila and a haven for unique biodiversity, the Masungi landscape faces threats of quarrying, deforestation, land grabbing, and other illegal activities.

Masungi Georeserve Foundation, Handout

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo is asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to act on reports of unauthorized and unlawful activities at Masungi Georeserve by using its proposed P13.95 million confidential funds in the 2023 budget.

“With this amount, maybe you can tap an intelligence network to find out who are the groups sowing discord in Masungi. We need to kick out those armed groups because even as we speak, they are still roaming there," Tulfo said partly in Filipino during plenary deliberations on the budget.

Tulfo said he expected DENR to be spearheading efforts to secure Masungi, which has come under attack from quarry operators, resort owners and other entities who illegally occupy forestlands inside Marikina Watershed, a protected landscape.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/11/17/2224516/tulfo-tells-denr-tap-confidential-funds-protect-masungi