No jails will be built in Masungi Georeserve — BuCor

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Tuesday assured that no prison will be constructed within the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal.

Catapang, however, said a facility for a detachment of forest rangers would have to be built in the area to secure the agency’s jurisdiction. He said there are 20 to 30 hectares of “vacant spaces” within the area that may be used.

“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.

In early 2023, BuCor and the Masungi Georeserve Foundation butted heads over the protected area after BuCor said that it was eyeing to build a new headquarters in the property.

BuCor said that the bureau was awarded the 270-hectare property in Masungi under Proclamation No. 1158, which was signed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Meanwhile, Catapang said that the idea to build a new headquarters remains pending amid further study.

Catapang said that BuCor, with the guidance of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, is committed to use the Masungi property for purposes that will not adversely affect the area.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in March reiterated that the Masungi Georeserve is a protected forest reserve.—RF, GMA Integrated News