'Development is necessary but...': Chocolate Hills resort not DOT-accredited

The resort situated within the world-famous Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan, Bohol, which drew flak from netizens, has no accreditation from the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The DOT said the Captain’s Peak Resort is located within a UNESCO-declared Global Geopark and a source of national pride for the Philippines. It has been dubbed by some as the “Eight Wonder of the World.”

In a statement, the tourism department stated that its regional office in Central Visayas has been in coordination with the provincial government of Bohol since August 2023 to express its “concerns regarding this matter, especially recognizing the necessity of preserving the integrity of this natural resource.”

“The Captain's Peak Resort Development in Chocolate Hills is not an accredited tourism establishment under the auspices of the Department of Tourism's accreditation system, and there is no pending application for accreditation for the same,” the DOT said in a statement released Thursday, March 14.

According to the DOT, development is necessary for progress and growth, but it also needs to be done in a way that respects cultural and environmental preservation.

“We urge all parties involved, including government agencies, private sector entities, and local communities, to work together towards sustainable and responsible tourism practices that uphold the integrity of our natural heritage,” it said.

Youth group chides gov’t agencies

Expressing their dismay on the construction of the resort right in the middle of UNESCO-declare Global Geopark , youth group Stewards and Volunteers for the Earth - Philippines (SAVE PH) called out concerned government agencies for their failure to protect one of Philippines’ natural resources.

The group said the the resort was built in the name of “job-creation and tourism development projects.”

The erection of the Captain’s Peak Resort, according to SAVE PH, is the “latest abuse and brazen disregard of Philippines’ laws.”

“Government agencies, despite having the authority to disallow any projects encroaching or posing a threat to our protected areas have been instrumental in such transgressions,” Zyoen Garcia, the convenor of the SAVE Ph, said in a statement.

Should charter change pushes through, she claimed that Filipinos must expect “foreign ownership of land [to] trigger illegal land conversions and infrastructure intrusion of protected areas will only lead to more agrarian conflicts and wildlife degradation.”

‘Already addressed’

The provincial government of Bohol said that it has already addressed the issue of the Captain’s Peak Resort development in the areas of the Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan town.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Environment has conducted an investigation and submitted its report and recommendation. As stewards of the province, we cannot let this go on,” Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado  said in a statement posted on the “Provincial Government of Bohol” Facebook page on Wednesday night, March 13.

According to the governor, the provincial government asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Protected Area Management Bureau (PAMB) to “change its policy to the point that any development within the Chocolate Hills area which is not consistent to Bohol's UNESCO designation as a Global Geopark should be disallowed.”

“We will elevate this to the Secretary of the DENR for a clear guidance and direction,” said Aumentado.

Ordered close in 2023

In a statement, the environment department said it has already issued a Temporary Closure Order to the Captain’s Peak Resort on September 6, 2023 and a Notice of Violation on January 22, 2024 for operating without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

“As of March 13, 2024, the Regional Executive Director Paquito D. Melicor issued a Memorandum directing PENRO Bohol Ariel Rica to create a team to conduct inspection at Captain's Peak for its compliance with the Temporary Closure Order,” the agency said.

The DENR noted that the Chocolate Hills were declared a protected area on July 1, 1997 through Proclamation No. 1037 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos.

“This Proclamation designated the Chocolate Hills as a National Geological Monument and a Protected Landscape, recognizing the unique geological formations and the importance of covering this natural wonder for future generations. The declaration aimed to preserve the iconic landscape of the Chocolate Hills and promote sustainable tourism while protecting the biodiversity and environmental integrity of the area,” the department said.

The DENR noted that “if a land was titled prior to Proclamation 1037 declaring an area as protected area, the rights and interests of the landowner will generally be recognized and respected.”

“However, the declaration of the area as a protected area may impose certain restriction or regulations on land use and development within the protected area, even for privately-owned lands. These restrictions and regulations are to be detailed in the Environmental Impact Statement prior to the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the project,” it stated.

Recently, a Facebook page posted a video showing a resort built right within the popular Chocolate Hills. The video went viral, but a lot of netizens have expressed dismay after seeing the resort in the famous tourist spot.

The said video garnered a lot of “angry” reactions from Facebook users, with some netizens even calling out the government for allowing the resort’s construction. Some of them even pointed out that the Chocolate Hills is a protected area.