00:00 Baticos predicted the establishment of a resort on Chocolate Hills in Bohol.
00:05 Chocolate Hills is a protected area and national geological monument.
00:10 My report, Danating Kungko.
00:12 When we say Bohol, we immediately think of Chocolate Hills.
00:18 Local or foreign tourists are amazed by the Bohol that was declared a protected area and national geological monument in 1997.
00:26 Bohol is the first global geopark in the Philippines that UNESCO declared
00:32 because of the unique geological identity of the island, along with the world-famous Chocolate Hills.
00:38 However, it was built on the land of Bohol, which is surrounded by the town of Sagbaya,
00:43 a resort with a swimming pool, water slides, and a cottage.
00:48 Some netizens say that this is a violation of the view of Chocolate Hills.
00:52 According to the DNR, if the Chocolate Hills is included in the declaration of a protected area in 1997,
00:59 the owner will be recognized and respected for the rights and interests of the private property.
01:04 However, restrictions and regulations on how the land that is surrounded by the protected area will be used and developed can still be implemented.
01:13 The restrictions and regulations will be detailed in the Environmental Impact Statement before it is issued by the Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC.
01:23 In the case of the resort, the DNR issued a closure order for September 2023 and a Notice of Violation of this money due to the operation without ECC.
01:33 Under the local government code, it's the municipal government that has the primary duty to issue the cease and desist order also and maybe a closure order.
01:42 Because they are the ones who issued the building permit and the mayor's permit.
01:46 The governor, the provincial government, we can do our supervision making sure that the law is enforced by the municipal government.
01:56 The construction of the resort will be investigated by the Sanguniampanlalawigan in September 2023.
02:02 They also recommended that the DNR inspect the developments in the development of the Chocolate Hills area.
02:08 We have already sent our recommendations and requests to the DNR to stop any construction within the protected area.
02:17 We have not received any official written comments or feedback from the DNR.
02:25 And so with the result of their investigation regarding the Captain's Peak Resort.
02:33 According to the Department of Tourism, the resort is not accredited and there is no application for accreditation in the construction.
02:41 They issued a notice of violation and a resolution in the Capitol of Bohol on the issue in August 2023.
02:48 The Senate Tourism Committee issued a resolution to investigate the construction of the resort.
02:53 The DNR is still investigating and the GMA Integrated News is still investigating the owner of the resort.
02:59 Dan Ating Cunco reporting for GMA Integrated News.
03:03 The statement of the owner of the resort in Chocolate Hills has been released.
03:08 According to the Captain's Peak Garden and Resort Bohol, they are saddened by the lack of facilities in the construction of the resort.
03:15 They said that their construction plans were in the process of being finalized and they also received approval from the DNR and other authorities.
03:23 They also complied with all regulations and made steps to reduce the ecological footprint in the development process.
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