Sen. Nancy Binay filed on Wednesday, March 13, a resolution seeking to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation related to the reported construction of structures within the vicinity of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.
In filing Senate Resolution 967, Binay said that it is to preserve Bohol's protected area and major tourist attractions.
The resolution cited the controversial construction of illegal and informal structures including swimming pools, slides, and cottages under Captain's Peak Garden and Resort in Sagbayan town and Bud Agta in Carmen town that were too close to the feet of the hills.
Chocolate Hills is considered a protected area under the Republic Act No. 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act of 2018.
It also mentioned that the Department of Natural Resources - Protected Area Management Board (DENR-PAMB) failed to fully explain why it allowed the resort to use at least a 20 percent portion of the Chocolate Hills.
"It is necessary for the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the matter to help protect the Chocolate Hills from destruction due to the construction of illegal structures within its vicinity," Binay said in the resolution.
She added that it is a duty of the Senate to help protect and maintain the natural, biological, and physical diversities of the environment particularly on areas with biologically-unique features to sustain human life and development.
In a separate statement, Binay said that the scene is both infuriating and disheartening.
"We understand the importance of development, but there should be boundaries. If the DENR continues to issue ECCs in the guise of 'tourism development', then I believe they have misunderstood what ecotourism is all about, and they have become complicit to defacing a natural monument they're supposed to oppose," she said.
"It has also come to my attention that PAMB in 2022 and 2023 approved the proposal and issued a resolution “Favorably endorsing the development of Captain’s Peak Resort situated at Canmano, Sagbayan, Bohol within the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (CHNM),” she added.
Binay also stated that they want the DENR, PAMB, BEMO, PENRO, and the Local Government Units (LGUs) to explain why even with Chocolate Hills' protected status, construction permits continue to be granted.