Some developers cut through Chocolate Hills

Photo shows the wooden stairs and view deck on a Chocolate Hills mound near the Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort in Sagbayan, Bohol, where a government task force is conducting a probe on illegal structures built on the geological formation.

“What I saw yesterday, the developer cut some of the trees in order to design and execute the project,” Loyzaga added. “We are trying to trace when the activities started as we suspect that the activities happened when our concerned personnel were not allowed to go out during the COVID period,” she added.The Bud Agta resort – situated in Barangay Tamboan in Carmen town where some of the Chocolate Hills are also located – has violated the law, according to Mayor Conchita delos Reyes.

The ECC of the resort provides for a hilltop and viewing deck, aside from other amenities like cottage area, restrooms, resto bar, duck pond, trekking and camping grounds. The mayor said the Chocolate Hills Complex raked in over P106 million last year, surpassing its target of P80 million from fees and other income. Tourist arrivals at the complex averages 2,500 visitors daily.

Abalos did not identify those who will be held liable, as he still has to evaluate the findings of his investigating team prior to submitting a report to the Office of the Ombudsman. In 2018, PAMB approved a resolution granting go-signal to the Captain’s Peak resort, since the board was then presided over by a barangay captain. The resort was also given a building permit by the local government unit of Sagbayan, even without an ECC.PAMB allows the use of 20 percent of the Chocolate Hills area. This enabled the resort owner to build two water slides at the foot of the two hills attached to the swimming pool and seven cottages.

Once included, the DOT would be able to “provide recommendations on furthering the protection and preservation of the country’s protected areas safeguarded by the law,” according to a statement from the agency.

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