Masungi Georeserve Foundation (MGF) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) engaged a heated discourse on the protection of Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal because of call made by an academy award-winning actor on Thursday. In an Instagram post on Thursday, Hollywood artist Leonardo DiCaprio brought attention to Masungi Georeserve, calling on the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to protect the area from possible mining, logging and other illegal activities.
Leo is one of the international personalities who have voiced out their concern over the project’s trajectory between the DENR’s plans to cancel the memorandum that protects the lush georeserve. “The DENR threatens to cancel the agreement that protects this area from prolific land grabbing activities. This cancellation would set back the success of an internationally acclaimed conservation effort and leave the area vulnerable again,” he said in a lengthy post on Instagram.
“Join local rangers in calling on President @bongbongmarcos to intervene and continue to protect Masungi. Conservation successes like Masungi serve as a reminder that the Philippines can become a leader in sustainability, eco-tourism, biodiversity protection, and climate action. Protect Masungi Georeserve,” he ended his post.
Last April 20, MGF challenged DENR chief Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to personally look into the project site and engage in a constructive speaking engagement with the foundation. However, this invit.
