By Liza Soriano

MANILA — The Senate has commenced its investigation into the controversial resort constructed within the protected area of Chocolate Hills, Senator Raffy Tulfo revealed on Monday (18 March 2024).

“We are already looking into that,” Tulfo informed reporters.

Previously, Senators Nancy Binay and Cynthia Villar had expressed interest in conducting an ocular inspection in Bohol.

Tulfo also revealed the presence of infrastructures in Mt. Apo in Davao.

“We have discovered another one. Not only in Bohol but also in Mt. Apo in Davao. The situation is similar, with various structures mushrooming within the buffer zone, resembling mushrooms, different business establishments that should not be there because it’s a protected area,” he added.

The senator further stated that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) admitted to granting a two-year grace period for illegally constructed establishments to vacate the area.

“They allegedly gave a two-year grace period to some of those illegally erected structures to dismantle,” Tulfo said.

“In the first place, why were they allowed? They shouldn’t have been built. Now that they’re there, conducting business, harming the environment, you’re giving them two years; closure should be immediate,” the senator emphasized.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — If not for the social media post that went viral, the establishment of the controversial Captain’s Peak Resort at the foot of the Chocolate Hills in the town of Sagbayan, Bohol would not have been exposed that they were allowed to operate despite lacking an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Captain’s Peak Resort manager Julieta Sablas admitted in a television interview they were unable to work on the ECC given the challenges during the pandemic.

“Parang smooth lang, nagooperate kami. Tatlong taon diba yung pandemic, nakalimutan na po namin yung ECC. Ito po ang nangyari,” Sablas said when interviewed by ABS-CBN News on Wednesday evening (13 March 2024,).

She also admitted that before acquiring business permits, the local government directed them to the Protected Area Management Bureau (PAMB).

“Sabi ng LGU, mag engage muna kayo sa PAMB. Doon kayo magbigay ng proposed projects ninyo. Pag approved kayo sa PAMB, pwede na kayong kumuha ng business permit sa LGU,” she recounted.

Sablas recalled they were given a “clearance from PAMB” where it was stated that the resort’s proponent needs to comply with the ECC requirement.

“Alam kasi nilang nagooperate na kami eh. If you are not allowed to operate without that certificate, talagang i-istop nila kami,” she said.

Sablas lamented that had their resort not gone viral, documents like the ECC would not have been scrutinized.

(el Amigo/MNM)