"Philippines’ environment department rejects Masungi bid to halt georeserve wind project", 18 November 2025

The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has rejected an appeal of Masungi Georeserve Foundation, Inc (MGFI) to reconsider its decision allowing the construction of a 603-megawatt (MW) wind farm that would cut across protected areas within the Sierra Madre mountains in Rizal province.

MGFI, the nonprofit that manages the georesereve, filed a cease-and-desist order with the government early last year, and called for the revocation of the environmental compliance certificate issued to a proposed wind energy farm built by the Rizal Wind Energy Corp (RWEC), a joint venture by Singapore-based energy developer Vena Energy and Aboitiz Renewables, Inc, a subsidiary of Philipiine utility firm Aboitiz Power Corp.

RWEC commenced activities in the Tanay municipality in late 2023, with the plan to erect 12 wind turbines. In its latest filing, MGFI warned that the project would entail widespread road construction that may lead to forest clearing, vegetation damage, and visual disruption of the natural landscape. The group estimated that it would impact up to 1,000 hectares of multiple protection zones, including the Masungi Karst Conservation Area, which was declared a strict nature reserve and wildlife sanctuary more than three decades ago…

However, in a recent notice …, the DENR dismissed MGFI’s request, concluding that its investigation found no violations.

“No sufficient basis has been established to conclude the existence of grave or irreparable environmental damage that would necessitate the issuance of a cease and desist order,” said the document signed by Robert Angelo Metin, officer-in-charge and regional director of the Calabarzon region, where Masungi is located.

Metin confirmed that there was no ongoing development or construction on the site: “The halted status of the project and the minimal on-site activities undertaken significantly mitigate the potential for any substantial adverse environmental impact.” …

Vena Energy has said previously that it has adhered to all government regulations in the pursuit of the wind farm project, highlighting that it secured an environmental compliance certificate issued by a regional bureau under DENR, following a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study.

… DENR’s rejection of MFGI’s appeal is the latest in a series of legal tussles between the two parties. The environmental agency ordered in March the eviction of MFGI from the forests of Rizal – a move that could terminate their globally-recognised conservation work in the protected area.

… Indigenous people (IP) from the Dumagat-Remontado tribe residing in Rizal province welcomed the government’s eviction order of Masungi’s developers, declaring in a statement that the firm had been using environmental advocacy allegedly as a pretext for abuse…