‘Mother of all resolutions’ blamed for resort construction

MANILA, Philippines — The Tagbilaran Baywatch has discovered what it described as the “mother of all resolutions” that paved the way for the construction of a controversial resort and other illegal structures at the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (CHNM) in Bohol.

Lawyer Gertrude Biliran, spokesperson for Tagbilaran Watch, said the resolution was issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agency, the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB).

DENR-PAMB Resolution 05 approves the rules and regulations on ecotourism development and management within the natural/cultural heritage of the CHNM.

Biliran said the resolution, approved on May 4, 2012, was certified by a certain Marcial Ugay and signed by presiding officer Casimero Aceron.

It was affirmed by DENR-Central Luzon executive director and PAMB chairman Maximo Dichoso.

The Tagbilaran Baywatch alleged that the resolution “illegally provides a maximum of three structures within the 20-percent portion of the hill from the baseline, provided the design and color should blend with the general landscape.”

The 20-percent use from the baseline of the hill, as in the case of the controversial Captain’s Peak Resort in Sagbayan town, was provided under PAMB’s Resolutions 01 and 08 signed in 2018 and 2022, respectively.

The environmental watchdog said the provisions of these resolutions contradicted that of Proclamation 1037, which established the CHNM as amended under Proclamation 333.

“The laws require a buffer zone of 20 meters from the base of the hill outward, which means the area is a no-build zone as affirmed under Republic Act 11038, or the expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act,” the group said.

It said that Resolution 05 was allegedly made as basis for the construction of the Bud Agta Resort within the CHNM in the neighboring town of Carmen.

The Bud Agta Resort in Barangay Tamboan, which Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos visited recently, was issued an environment clearance certificate (ECC) to operate by the DENR.

Carmen Mayor Conchita delos Reyes said she did not issue a mayor’s permit since the resort violated certain policies.

Tagbilaran Baywatch called for the revocation of PAMB Resolution 05 and nullification of the illegal 20-percent area from the base of the hill policy, so it will no longer be used by the DENR-PAMB or any party to violate existing laws protecting the CHNM.

The environmental watchdog also called for the demolition of all illegal structures built within the CHNM’s buffer zones.

It urged local government units and government agencies to avoid enacting policies for protected areas that bypass existing national laws.

As this developed, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga has ordered DENR regional offices to stop issuing ECCs within protected areas.

Loyzaga issued a memorandum on March 26, suspending the approval by DENR regional offices of all ECC applications within protected areas “until further notice.”

The memorandum applies to all pending and future ECC applications that are being processed at the regional level. — Romina Cabrera