The discovery trail at Masungi Georeserve (photo from masungigeoreserve.com)
For its sustainable tourism efforts, the Masungi Georeserve in Tanay, Rizal was recognized in the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) during its annual UNWTO Award at St. Petersburg, Russia.
Described in its website as “a conservation area and a rustic rock garden tucked in the rainforests of Rizal”, the Masungi Georeserve landed in the top three of privately-led sustainable tourism projects in 2018 from around 200 global nominees.
A total of 190 applications from 71 countries were considered for the 15th year of the UNWTO Awards competition, which has three categories: Public Policy and Governance, Non-Governmental Organizations and Enterprises, the category where the georeserve was one of the global finalists alongside the nominees from Italy and India. The Community Impact by V Resorts, India eventually won the 2019 UNWTO Awards for Enterprises.
The foundation highlighted its project’s impact on the Rizal community during the awarding ceremony attended by over 300 United Nations ministers and officials.
This is the third international recognition for Masungi Georeserve which said in its statement that the recognition is a “wish came true, for the world to see something special in a piece of rock that was abandoned many years ago, and for the world to come together to protect it.” (Jojo Mangahis)