By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Amid the controversy generated by a resort constructed in Chocolate Hills in the town of Sablayan, Bohol that went viral on social media, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has zeroed in on whether or not the establishment had an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) before it was able to get a business permit to operate.
This question was posed by DENR on Friday (15 March 2024) following claims by the Municipality of Sagbayan that it did not receive a copy of the temporary closure order issued by the DENR that led to the issuance of a business permit in January.
“The issue is does it have an ECC or not. It’s not whether hindi naman kami nabigyan ng kopya. Alam naman po siguro natin at the local level kung ano ang kailangan masubmit bago mag issue ng isang building permit sa protected area,” DENR Secretary Toni Yulo Loyzaga pointed out in a virtual press conference.
Loyzaga urged the local government to remain focused on the resort’s violation instead of focusing on whether they received the notice.
She added the agency learned that Captain’s Peak Resort was first granted a building permit by the LGU in 2020.
The DENR chief noted that at that time, the LGU already knew the resort didn’t have an ECC.
“The second building permit was issued on September 20, 2022. Alam naman natin siguro at nila na wala silang in-apply-an ng ECC. So patuloy po yang ini-issue-han ng local government. At alam naman nila siguro na while they were building all of these, they did not apply for the ECC,” Loyzaga said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
