Why Is There a Resort in the Middle of Chocolate Hills?

(SPOT.ph) Social media is ablaze with demands for stronger protection measures for Bohol's Chocolate Hills after a video from a vlogger showcasing a resort within this natural sanctuary went viral on Facebook.

Although the video only began going viral when it was posted in early March, the establishment in question—Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort—has long been under scrutiny since they added resort facilities in 2023. Located in Barangay Canmano, Sagbayan, the resort features a water park, cottages, and rooms at the base of the Chocolate Hills. Based on the Facebook pages of the resort, a certain Edgar Button is in charge.

No doubt the video production of Ren the Adventurer is of high quality, but the content has people up in arms. Users are pointing out how much of an “eyesore” the resort is against the natural view of the Chocolate Hills.

There are now calls for the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) to step in and take action, alongside comments that range from disapproval to disappointment: “Why was this allowed? This kind of resort should not and must not be supported.” “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”

As of writing, the video has racked up four million views. Captain's Peak Resort has temporarily closed its operations on March 14 following DENR's statement.

Also read: Bohol Declared the Philippines' First UNESCO Global Geopark

Is it legal to build a resort in Chocolate Hills?

The DENR said in a statement that it issued Captain’s Peak Resort a Temporary Closure Order (TCO) in September 2023 and a Notice of Violation for operating without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) in January 2024. On March 14, a team from Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Bohol went to inspect the resort for its compliance with the TCO, which resulted in its recent closure.

“The DENR-EMB will continue to monitor,” DENR said.

But why was it allowed to be built in the location in the first place?

Even if Chocolate Hills is a protected area under Republic Act 7586 or an Act Providing for the Establishment and Management of Natural Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), much of the land is still privately owned, according to Municipal Planning and Development Cooridinator Maximo Lomosbog in an interview with The Freeman.

This leads to confusion over which parts are off-limits for development.

The owner’s sister, Julieta Sablas, told The Freeman last year that the land was already a titled lot when they bought it in 2005. Initially, they intended to use the area for agriculture but was eventually repurposed as a tourist destination since the soil was unfeasible for farming.

Sablas explained that they presented a proposal to the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) before the resort’s construction. Despite efforts to minimize environmental impact, she confessed that some parts of the hill had to be extracted.

Republic Act 7586 prohibits "mutilating, defacing or destroying objects of natural beauty; squatting, mineral locating, or occupying any land; constructing or maintaining any kind of structure, fence or enclosures," among others.

Following this, Bohol Provincial member Jamie Villamor urged the DENR to halt the construction of new structures near the Chocolate Hills until clearer guidelines on the development and management of the area from the PAMB are finalized.

“The DENR-PAMB, in consultation with stakeholders, must address the ambiguity of the rules and guidelines in the development and management of our protected areas to ensure long-term protection and conservation,” Villamor was quoted as saying in Inquirer.

SPOT.ph has reached out to Villamor for updates on this initiative, but there is no response yet as of publishing.

Internet reacts to the resort in Chocolate Hills

In 2023, Chocolate Hills was declared the first UNESCO Global Geopark in the Philippines—a designation only valid for four years.

UNESCO defines Global Geoparks as "single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development." When the title expires, it is scheduled for a revalidation process.

It's no surprise then why there is public outrage over Captain's Peak Resort. Since the post went viral, there have been widespread calls from online users to safeguard the Chocolate Hills to ensure that development should not come at the expense of the Philippines' natural heritage.

SPOT.ph has also reached out to the Provincial Government of Bohol and is awaiting comment.

Also read: The Best Things to See and Do in Bohol for Two Days

UPDATED (March 14, 2024): The article has been updated to add DENR's statement and Captain Peak's Resort's temporary closure announcement.