Senator Nancy Binay is seeking a Senate inquiry on the reported plans of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to build new headquarters at the Masungi Georeserve, an ecotourism site in Tanay, Rizal.

In Senate Resolution No. 495 filed on February 23, Binay asked the Senate Committee on Tourism, which she currently heads, to probe the matter.

"While initiatives of the Bucor to have a new headquarters and housing for its personnel are reasonable, it is important to weigh the possible consequences of building its headquarters in an ecotourism site like the Masungi Geoserve, which may affect the environment and tourism in the country," she said.

Binay mentioned that scientists from the National Museum of the Philippines had already noted that developing the recollection site in Masungi "would have expensive consequences for the environment."

On February 16, Masungi Georeserve Group reported that 20 BuCor officials arrived at their area to conduct an "ocular inspection" for the alleged "relocation site of the NBP [New Bilibid Prison]."

According to the group, the BuCor officials handed them a certificate of title showing that BuCor owns the 270 hectares of Lot 10 on which the Masungi currently stands.

But the Georeserve group argued that Lot 10 is "home to the fragile limestone formations of Masungi Georeserve," and since 2002, it "has already been equitized in a joint venture project between the DENR and Blue Star."

Following this, BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. maintained that BuCor is the registered owner of the said property, and therefore, it "has all the right to conduct any activity in the area."