Other establishments around Chocolate Hills say they have 'complete documents' | ABS-CBN

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Other establishments around Chocolate Hills say they have 'complete documents'

Other establishments around Chocolate Hills say they have 'complete documents'

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Mar 16, 2024 01:48 PM PHT

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A screenshot from a drone video of the Captain’s Peak resort at the foot of Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan, Bohol shot on March 14, 2024. Froilan Billones, ABS-CBN NewsA screenshot from a drone video of the Captain’s Peak resort at the foot of Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan, Bohol shot on March 14, 2024. Froilan Billones, ABS-CBN News

SAGBAYAN, Bohol — At least two other establishments built on or beside the Chocolate Hills in the towns of Sagbayan and Carmen in Bohol have expressed confidence that they will not suffer the same fate as Captain's Peak Resort. 

Speaking on conditions of anonymity, staff of the two establishments say that following the controversy hounding Captain's Peak, they too felt anxious.

"Siyempre baka pati kami pagdiskitahan. Pero baka hindi rin kasi kumpleto naman kami ng papeles, lalo na yung ECC," one said. 

(We were afraid that we might experience the same thing. But then again, we might not because we have complete documents, especially the environmental compliance certificate [ECC.])

After Captain's Peak went viral, photos of Sagbayan Peak and Bud Agta floated on social media with netizens calling on government to also inspect the establishments. 

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Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on Friday said that the public played a big part in putting to light challenges faced by the environment. 

"What we can do is actually be proactive as what we're doing now in looking into other areas in this region, but really concentrating on Chocolate Hills first. Kasi mukhang ang daming kailangang tingnan pa in terms of the other establishments operating," she said. 

On Thursday, Felito Pon, Executive Secretary of Sagbayan's Mayor, told ABS-CBN News that staff from the municipal tourism office visited Sagbayan Peak to check their documents. 

ABS-CBN News obtained copies of Sagbayan Peak's ECC. According to the document, Sagbayan Peak consists of a viewing deck, a multipurpose building, and a swimming pool.

The ECC also laid out conditions including the posting of a billboard, specifying it has been given an ECC. 

The first page of the environmental compliance certificate of Sagbayan Peak. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN NewsThe first page of the environmental compliance certificate of Sagbayan Peak. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News

Bud Agta in the town of Carmen also has the same billboard erected at the entrance of its trail to the viewing deck. Staff say that Mayor Conchita Delos Reyes also visited the establishment on Thursday to check their permits.

A billboard in front of Bud Agta Hill indicating that it has been issued an environmental compliance certificate. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN NewsA billboard in front of Bud Agta Hill indicating that it has been issued an environmental compliance certificate. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News

The DENR also clarified the notion that ECCs function as permits. 

"The ECC is not a permit. It's actually a planning tool which guides everyone on a particular project by identifying what the possible impacts of a project could be on the community of a general area," said DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna. 

Earlier this week, netizens expressed outrage on social media after a video promoting the "beauty" of Capitan's Peak Resort went viral. The resort sits on three hectares of land owned by a certain Edgar Buton. 

Captain's Peak has a swimming pool, water slides, and cottages nestled at the bottom of three Chocolate Hills. 

Its manager, Buton's sister, acknowledged that among the conditions of the Protected Area Management Bureau resolution endorsing the project includes securing an ECC. However, the management was not able to apply for it right away, citing challenges brought by the pandemic. Their application for an ECC was only lodged last year. 

The DENR, however, said that it remains unsure whether they will be allowed to reopen due to a series of other potential violations. 

Captain's Peak Resort is now closed with a huge sign of a cease and desist order propped by its entrance. The DENR says it will continuously monitor and ensure the order is being fully implemented.

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