‘Limit political influence in protected areas permits’

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Cynthia Villar yesterday proposed easing local politicians’ influence in approving permits for protected areas, following the Senate’s investigation on the infamous Captain’s Peak Resort built right at the foot of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

In a dwIZ interview yesterday, Villar said the Senate environment committee hearing she presided over found that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) failed to enforce the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) law due to gaps in the measure.

She cited the composition of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) – composed of DENR, local government and civil society officials – that favors local interests over environmental concerns.

In the case of the Chocolate Hills, the PAMB easily approved the construction of the Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort because it was dominated by barangay captains, Villar said.

“There is a lack of enforcement of the law. We will study the gaps in the provisions so that we know what to amend in the law,” Villar said.?She added that there is a need to overhaul the composition of PAMB in order for environmental protection to outweigh local business interests.

The senator hoped the local government would not allow the temporarily suspended resort to continue operations following the controversy.

“I would have no problem if they developed agriculture in a protected area, because it would blend in with the environment. But to construct a building for business, that’s a different story. That should not have been allowed,” Villar said.

Villar said the Senate is looking at doing an ocular inspection in Bohol as part of the investigation.