DENR probe reveals developments worse than viral Chocolate Hills resort
by Jasmine Pagkaliwangan
The defacement of Chocolate Hills in Bohol turns out to be even worse following the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) investigation. Project developers carved off portions of the Chocolate Hills to make way for construction, seen in the cemented hilltop of Sagbayan Peak, according to DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga last March 22.
Open since 2021, the Bud Agta resort located in Barangay Tambo-an of Carmen, Bohol, committed certain violations. Carmen Mayor Conchita delos Reyes admitted to issuing a mayor’s permit in 2023 since the resort had an environmental clearance certificate (ECC) and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) approval.
However, she did not issue a permit this year as the resort only applied for a trekking and camping ground. Bud Agta has a 174-step spiral hardwood staircase and galvanized iron pipes that lead to the top of one hill.
According to Bohol Provincial Board Member Jamie Villamor, chairman of the committee on tourism and environmental protection, measurements at Bud Agta exceeded the allowable limit set by the PAMB. Authorities were prompted to investigate after an influencer’s promotional video of the Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort surfaced on Facebook, fueling heated discussions on how it was permitted.
DENR constituent PAMB filed Resolution №1, s. 2018, including an ECC. However, subsequent endorsements in 2022 led to the proposal to transfer development from the protected zone to the resort’s parking area. Meanwhile, PAMB’s Resolution №01 and 08 in 2018 and 2022, respectively, permitted construction within 20% of the hill’s baseline — contrary to laws protecting the area.
Despite these resolutions, concerns were raised about the legality of the construction based on the zoning regulations and buffer zones. The resort’s operations have faced scrutiny, with calls for the revocation of said resolutions and stricter enforcement of environmental protection laws.
A Temporary Closure Order was already issued by DENR against the resort last Sept. 6, 2023, and a Notice of Violation was sent to the project proponent in January 2024 for operating without an ECC.
In 1988, around 1,766 hills in Bohol were declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site and designated as a National Geological Monument in 1997. However, the areas between the hills were not included in the protected coverage areas as per the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 2022.
According to Loyzaga, 13,500 hectares of the Chocolate Hills are “alienable and disposable,” hence, lots can be titled in these areas. However, activities that alter the hills are still prohibited.
As of writing, the controversial Captains Peak resort remains temporarily closed after the revocation of its business permit.
Relatedly, a mountain was defaced in Brgy. Cambuhawe, Balamban, Cebu to give way for the establishment of the new Cebu Capitol building. This ongoing development proceeded despite mounting opposition from environmentalists and citizens.
