Chocolate Hills resort controversy
A controversy arose in March 2024 when a resort built in the middle of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines, came to wider public attention. The geological formations are a protected area.[1]
Members of both chambers of Congress have questioned how the resort was allowed to be built between the hills despite its heritage and protected area status.[2]
Background[edit]
Chocolate Hills[edit]
The Chocolate Hills are 1,776 near-identical conical hills or kegelkarsts[3] which straddles across multiple municipalities in the island province of Bohol; Batuan, Bilar, Carmen, Sagbayan, Sierra Bullones and Valencia.[4] It is a major tourist attraction of the province.
The hills have multiple designations. UNESCO named the hills as a National Geological Monument in 1988. In 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos named the hills a National Geological Monument and a Protected Landscape.[3] The hills are a significant feature in the declaration of the whole Bohol island as the Philippines' first UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023.[5][6]
Despite the 1997 declaration, private owners of land in the Chocolate Hills are still recognized although their usage of land is restricted and regulated.[7]
Resort[edit]
| Captain's Peak Garden and Resort | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Edgar Buton |
| Opened | 2019 |
| Closed | March 14, 2024 |
The resort which is subject to controversy was Captain's Peak Garden and Resort in the barangay of Libertad Norte in Sagbayan.[8]
The property associated with the resort was first listed in Bohol's Register of Deeds on August 28, 1996 – a year prior to the Ramos declaration. The land was acquired by the resort owners in 2005. Captain's Peak started operations in 2019.[7]
Prior to the controversy which started in March 2024, the DENR already issued a temporary closure on the resort in September 2023.[9] The resort continued operating. On January 22, 2024 the DENR has issued a violation notice due to the resort operating without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).[10]
Events[edit]
Vlog coverage[edit]
The controversy arose after vlogger and social media content creator Ren The Adventurer featured Captain's Peak Garden and Resort in his video. The video is a review of the resort and was published on Facebook on March 6, 2024. It featured aerial shots of the resort in between three of the Chocolate Hills.[3][11] Resort owner Edgar Buton thanked Ren for the coverage but the resort would receive significant negative reception.[1]
Closure of the resort[edit]
On March 14, 2024, Captain's Peak ceased operations after its business permit was revoked by the Sagbayan local government.[12][13]
Congressional inquiries[edit]
The resort has been subject of inquiries in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The liability of the Department of Natural Resources as member of the Protected Area Management Board and local officials was questioned.[14][15][16][17]
ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Erwin Tulfo, who compared the resort to an eyesore and a "wart" and noticed that there are two other resorts built on the Chocolate Hills.[18][19]
Actions by the local government[edit]
A task force was formed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on March 18 to recommend charges before the Office of the Ombudsman. The local government led by Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Sagbayan Mayor Suarez, and 2nd District Representative Vanessa Aumentado met to investigate the culpability and it was agreed that "Captain’s Peak should remain closed while the issue was not yet resolved."[20][21]
Suspension of government officials[edit]
On May 28, 2024 the Ombudsman imposed a six-month preventive suspension on Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado and 68 other officials in the province, including the mayors of eight municipalities (Sagbayan, Batuan, Catigbian, Clarin, Bilar, Sierra Bullones, Valencia, and Carmen) as part of its investigation into illegal construction within the Chocolate Hills.[22]
See also[edit]
- Torre de Manila – skyscraper controversial for being built on the sight-line behind the Rizal Monument
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Timeline: The Chocolate Hills resort controversy". Rappler. March 18, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Magramo, Kathleen (March 22, 2024). "New resort at protected natural wonder stirs fierce debate on conservation in the Philippines". CNN. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Pasion, Lorenz (March 14, 2024). "What you need to know about Chocolate Hills". Rappler. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ "Vera Files Fact Check: Post on controversial Chocolate Hills resort location NEEDS CONTEXT". VERA Files. March 20, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ "Bohol Island UNESCO Global Geopark". UNESCO. May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Lachica, Immae (March 14, 2024). "Netizens share thoughts on controversial resort in Bohol's Chocolate Hills". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Bosano, Raphael (March 14, 2024). "Manager of controversial Chocolate Hills resort admits not being able to acquire environment certificate; workers prepare for jobless days ahead". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ "Manager ng Captain's Peak Resort sa Bohol, umaasang 'di sila tuluyang ipasasara". Balitambayan (in Filipino). GMA Network. March 19, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne (March 13, 2024). "DENR orders closure of Chocolate Hills pool resort back in September 2023". SunStar. Manila. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ Formalejo, Rick (March 19, 2024). "The Crucial Role of Environmental Compliance Certificates in Resort Development". BluPrint. One Mega Group, Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ "Don't look at us! DENR reacts to viral Chocolate Hills resort; says closure order issued in 2023". Manila Bulletin. March 13, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Sitchon, John (March 15, 2024). "Controversial Chocolate Hills resort shuts down". Rappler. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Obedencio, Ric (March 15, 2024). "Chocolate Hills resort halts operations". Philippine Star. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Ramos-Araneta, Macon (March 17, 2024). "Probe on Bohol resort to continue despite recess". Manila Standard. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Palaubsanon, Mitchelle; Magsumbol, Caecent No-ot (March 15, 2024). "Resort beside Chocolate Hills: Congressional inquiries pushed". The Freeman (in English and Filipino). Philippine Star. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Abarca, Charie (April 3, 2024). "Senate probes construction of resort inside Chocolate Hills". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Cruz, Maricel (May 20, 2024). "Tulfo cites loopholes in law on Chocolate Hills mess". Manila Standard. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Panti, Llanesca (March 14, 2024). "'Parang kulugo': House sets probe into Chocolate Hills resort". GMA News. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
- ^ Antalan, Mary (March 15, 2024). "Two more resorts spotted built in Chocolate Hills". DZRH. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ Udtohan, Leo (March 19, 2024). "Bohol execs meet to pinpoint culprits behind illegal Chocolate Hills structures". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ Argosino, Faith (March 19, 2024). "DILG task force digs into how Chocolate Hills resort was built". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ "Bohol governor, 68 others suspended over Chocolate Hills resort mess". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.