Senator Cynthia Villar on Sunday, March 17 said she is keen on asking the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) over its role in the construction of a resort in Chocolate Hills.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said PAMB, a multi-sectoral agency, is supposed to be accountable over such issues since they have control over the development of land that have been declared protected areas.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the one managing PAMB, Villar noted.

“Yung PAMB (dapat papanagutin), and they are composed of non-government organizations, local government and the DENR. Ang nagma-manage ng (the one managing) PAMB is DENR,” Villar said in an interview over Radio DZBB.

“Usually, it (releasing of business permits) is discussed and nagtataka ako bakit nakalusot sa (I’m surprised why it slipped through) PAMB,” she pointed out.

Asked if the construction of the Captain Peak’s resort was appropriate, Villar said there is nothing wrong with putting up structures within a protected area as long as it will serve its purpose of enhancing the protected area and not to destroy it.

But constructing business establishments, including subdivisions, are not allowed in a protected area.

“No, no, you cannot build a subdivision within a protected area,” Villar stressed.

“I don’t know, I haven’t seen it, but hindi kami ganun (we are not like that),” Villar said citing the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPCHEA), a critical habitat and eco-tourism area, as an example.

“Like sa aming (in our) protected area, we built a museum, a hall for the people who come to hear lectures about the protected area,” Villar said.

“We have the office of the DENR, office of BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), and visitors’ center where they can proudly welcome visitors. But not really a business,” she pointed out.

“Baka di nila naiintindihan (Maybe they do not understand) what is a protected area. Hindi natural that there is a resort in a protected area. Pero ang namamahala nyan ay yung (but the one managing it is) PAMB and its composed of everybody, including DENR. Kaya di nila pwedeng sabihin na hindi nila alam yun (they cannot just say that they do not know it),” she reiterated.

Villar said she will file the resolution this week so the Senate environment committee can conduct an inquiry into the matter at the soonest time possible.