“THE hills should not be altered nor defaced and extraction is strictly prohibited.”
This was one of the provisions of Resolution No. 01, series of 2018, executed by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), governing the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, for the Captain’s Peak Garden Eco-park Tourism resort in barangay Canmano, Sagbayan town.
The provincial board members who visited the area initially found out that the resort has built some cottages and two water slides for a swimming pool were constructed at the foot or sides of at least three (3) hills that may be considered chocolate hills.
The joint committees of environment and tourism chaired by Board Members Atty. Jamie Villamaor and Tita V. Baja, respectively, discovered this during their ocular inspection of the resort on Friday as part of their investigation in aid of legislation following the privilege speech of BM Nathaniel Binlod on this concern.
Both board members have yet to issue an official statement on the alleged damage inflicted to the Chocolate Hills surrounding the said mountain resort until after they can hear the sides of both parties who are slated to be called for a committee meeting sometime next week, Villamor told media interview.
The ocular visit by the joint committees to the resort was also prompted upon the instruction of Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor A. Balite as an offshoot of Binlod’s speech.
No one of them yet could say if the construction of these structures at the feet of the said hills is a blatant violation of the PAMB’s approved conditions when they issued the said Resolution governing and giving green light to the resort.
Among the prohibition issued by PAMB are the following: No structures at the top of the hill; function hall and all other infrastructures should be erected and/or constructed within the 20% area from the base of the hill which is considered as the multiple use of zone pursuant to Department Admin Order No 2009-09; no construction of a zipline; color should blend with the color of the environment and the style of the building should go with the slope and terrain of the hills; the proponent should secure pertinent permits as required including the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC); and the proponent will set aside the corresponding royalty fee of 2.00 per guest to the PAMB.
Another kink the joint committee committed to resolve whether, or not, the clearing of the “access road” within the resort area was a breach of the existing laws as alleged by the regional paper report.
Sagbayan officials led by Mayor Jun Suarez, who also visited the resort, said that the “road access” is but an improvement or widened to make it more accessible as this was an “existing” road.
But the “improvement” as claimed by Sagbayan officials is seen to be freshly cut a limestone formation across the feet of two hills which may be considered as Chocolate Hills.
The cutting or improvement of the “access road” inside the vicinity of the resort was done by the town, but not yet finished, was the result accordingly of the barangay request.
Canmano’s Sanggunian Barangay passed Resolution No. 02, s. 2023, on February 03, 2023, “requesting Mayor Engr. Resituto Q. Suarez III to repair the road connecting barangay Camano and Libertad Norte particularly the road going to Captain’s Peaak area.”
The said Resolution obtained by this writer was signed by barangay Chairman George G. Bonajos and certified by barangay secretary Mario V. Bahinting.
The PAMB has issued another Resolution No. 21, s. 2023 and approved on July 22, 2022: “Favorably endorsing the development of Captain’s Peak Resort situated at Canmano, Sagbayan, Bohol within the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (CHNM).”
The said Resolution was prompted after PAMB’s inspection and request of the owner’s application to transfer of location of some of the amenities and facilities of the resort nearby within the resort-owned lot.
The transfer included the development of swimming pool, children’s pool, including water slides, (shower area and dressing room), ten cottages, one function room and 10 rentable cottages.
“The project area is located at the flat portion and it is within the multiple use zone of CHNM-PA per proposed zoning. The area (Lot 3561, CAD 050-D, containing an area of 10,068 square meters) is titled property owned by Edgar Buton, the owner/applicant of the resort with TC No. 37138,” the Resolution said.
Among the conditions set by the said Resolution for the resort to comply are the following: no development in areas that PAMB disallows, maintain road right of way, provide proper drainage, provide enough parking space, installation of material recovery facility, provide prescribed septic tanks, secure necessary permits and proponent is required to pay P2.00/guest as royalty fee and one-time administrative fee, P5,000.00.
The said Resolution is certified by presiding officer Tito Ancog, reviewed by Penro Ariel N. Rica and concurred by regional executive director Paquito D. Melicor, Jr. as PAMB chair.
Prior to the inspection, the joint committees, including BMs Greg Jala, Aldner Damalerio, Nathaniel Binlod and Dr. Elpidio Bonita met with the municipal officials headed by the mayor at the latter’s office. (rvo)
