SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has ordered a legislative inquiry on the construction and operation of a resort in Chocolate Hills in Bohol province.

The government has declared Chocolate Hills as a protected area which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo revealed the Speaker’s directive in a regular House of Representatives news briefing.

“We are set to file on Monday a moto propio inquiry regarding that matter. Hindi rin po nagustuhan ng House leadership po iyon. I’ve been communicating with the Speaker…napag-uusapan po at nasabi ko na po sa kanya, magpa-file po tayo ng inquiry regarding this matter,” Tulfo said.

“Hindi po nagustuhan po ng liderato iyon, kasi number one, iyon po ay dineklara ng National Heritage. Kahit ano pa hong palusot, daldal po ng daldal sa social media, iyong kanilang manager duon na si Ms. Sablay…o Sablan, eh sinasabi niya hindi naman daw nila ginalaw iyong Chocolate Hills,” he said.

“The mere fact na nanduon ka, tiningan ko nga hindi nga ho nila ginalaw, nasa gitna sila ng dalawang hill, sinira ho nila iyong view. Actually, para makita mo ng maganda iyong hill na iyan, may aakyatin kang parang tore para makikita mo ngayon. Panget na hong tingnan,” he added.

He said the Speaker wants to know who are responsible for allowing the resort to open and operate in Chocolate Hills.

“Ang hindi ko ho maintindihan kaya gusto nating paimbistigahan, at gusto rin pong paimbistigahan ni Speaker, sino ang nagbigay ng permit, building permit. Kasi hindi ka naman pupuwedeng mag-construct ng kung anumang bagay dito sa Pilipinas kung wala ka pong permit. Dapat po nanggagaling po iyan sa LGU (local government unit),” he said.

He said the LGU and other concerned officials must have been aware of the construction and operation of the resort.

“Ano hong ginawa ng LGU? Kaya hindi ho nila puwedeng hindi alam…ang dami pong sisisihin diyan eh, pati iyong provincial government, akalain mo nag-party pa pala sila kung hindi ba naman mga luko-luko,” he added.

The solon pointed out that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and his field personnel also have a lot of explaining to do.

“Pag mga ganun po na mga ika nga heritage site, tourist attraction, iyan po ay may mga park rangers, kung tawagin ng DENR, sila po iyong nagbabantay diyan. Ang tanong ko, nasaan iyong park ranger ng DENR?” he asked.

“May palusot pa nga ho akong nakita eh, kasi nabili niya daw pagma-may-ari, I don’t give a crap, kung iyan po ay binili mo. Maski na binili mo iyan, pag-aari pa rin iyan kahit papano. Sinabi na nga National Heritage. Huwag mong tayuan ng kung anu-anong kabalbalan iyan, kasi nga po iyan po ay para hanggang sa susunod na henerasyon. Huwag mo naman, dahil nakabili ka ng lupa, kung sino man iyong…nagbenta ng lupa diyan, ay 1995 pa idineklara iyan eh,” he added.

The House leader said agencies and officials with accountability on the matter also include the Land Registration Authority, which is in charge of the titling of lands.

SENATE PROBE

Amid the reported construction of structures within the Chocolate Hills protected area, three senator urged the need to conduct an immediate senate investigation saying it is an urgent matter considering that the area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected area under proclamation no.1037 and Rep. Act no.7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, said it is their priority to conduct a probe to find out how this came about.

“We should know who is behind this move.” Villar said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda condemned this move explaining that the CHNM is one of the protected areas legislated under the Expanded NIPAS Act, which she principally authored.

It was originally proclaimed as a National Geological Monument and a Protected Landscape by then-President Fidel Ramos as early as 1997. It is also a declared geological park (geopark).

In an official statement released on March 13, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it already issued a Temporary Closure Order last September 6, 2023, and a Notice of Violation to the project proponent last January 22, 2024, for operating without an Environment Compliance Certificate for the project.

DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor also issued a Memorandum on March 13, 2024, directing the Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ariel Rica to create a team to inspect the resort for its compliance with the Temporary Closure Order.

Upon the recommendation of the DENR, Presidential Proclamation No. 333, Series of 2003 excluded all alienable and disposable lands and flat and rolling lands below 18% in slope from the coverage of CHNM but ensured the retention of 20 meters from the baseline of every hill going outward as part of the CHNM.

Senator Nancy Binay filed her own Resolution 967 seeking an immediate investigation as she insisted the need to preserve Bohol’s protected area and tourist attractions.

Binay said somebody must be held answerable saying that those concerned agencies must explain why they allowed the construction of structures in the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument.

Binay said concerning agencies will all be invited to shed light on the issue. By Camille Balagtas & Jester Manalastas