Chocolate Hills Resort and capitol building: Governor blasts ‘double standard’

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia has criticized the “double standard” and “hypocrisy” of a few of those who called for the protection of the Chocolate Hills but are silent on the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project whose bus station would harm the view of the Cebu Capitol building, which is a heritage structure.

This, as Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos warned that local officials found negligent over the Chocolate Hills controversy may be suspended or dismissed, as he ordered the creation of a task force to look into the matter.

This came after Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga disclosed that the Captain’s Peak resort situated inside the protected area forming part of the world-renowned Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan, Bohol has the approval of local officials, especially barangay captains.

“We have mobilized a special investigation team to swiftly ascertain any liability of local officials in this matter,” Abalos said.

He said local officials found complicit or negligent with respect to any violation will face legal action.

“These officials may be suspended or dismissed. We will continue to uphold accountability and integrity in public service,” he said.

At the Cebu Capitol, the Provincial government’s official news network reported the governor has become a victim of double standard by “chest-thumping” self-anointed experts who called for the protection of Bohol’s Chocolate Hills yet advocated for BRT’s bus station construction to push through, thus sacrificing the Capitol building’s “cultural integrity”.

Garcia it is hypocrisy when these same critics asked authorities to close down a resort located in the middle of Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan because it is a UNESCO Global Geopark and a recognized National Geological Monument.

“But in their twisted logic, it would be okay to allow the BRT stations to be built along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City, directly in front of the Cebu Capitol Building, which is also a declared National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and an Important Cultural Property declared by the National Museum of the Philippines,” she said.

“Kon nihilom lang ko kay tingali unya og ma-bash ko, inigkahuman unya niana (BRT bus station), Cebu na sad ang ma-trending,” Garcia said this during the opening of R’ Cebu Expo at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu Atrium.

She earlier issued a cease and desist order against the implementers of the CBRT project along Osmeña Blvd. as a bus station would block the view of the facade of the Capitol when viewed from the Fuente Osmeña rotunda.

She said the bus station would destroy the unhampered vista corridor from the Capitol to Fuente Osmeña through Osmeña Blvd.—three historic sites that could easily be afforded protection by law against a “violative construction design”.

“Gipili niining inyong gobernador nga mobatikos nalang mo nako karon kaysa ang mga mosunod nato nga mga henerasyon tangtangan nato sa pribilihiyo, katungod, ug dignidad nga sila mapasigarbohon nga Sugbuanon tungod kay duna silay usa ka majestic, grand, acknowledged, and recognized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as a National Historical Landmark such as our Capitol Building,” the governor said.

Under the law, the Capitol building is entitled to “priority protection from modification or demolition resulting from all government projects” and that government projects that may potentially affect its integrity must consult with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, which CBRT implementers failed to do.

“Depensahan ko kini, bisan pa og ako tawgon og apil-apilon kay natural, ato ning gipanumpaan isip mga opisyal,” the governor said.

“I, Gwen Garcia, this Governor of Cebu, has chosen to uphold the law,” she added.

SENATOR BONG GO

Meanwhile, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go joined the chorus of voices on the Chocolate Hills controversy by emphasizing the importance of sustainable tourism development and strict compliance with environmental laws to protect natural heritage sites.

As a member of both the Senate Committees on Tourism and Environment, he voiced his “readiness to participate should there be a Senate investigation on the matter to ensure environmental preservation remains a priority alongside tourism growth”.

“Ako po'y nananawagan, kung kailangan nating imbestigahan ito, check natin mabuti. Importante po ang pagprotekta sa environment,” Go said in a statement.

“Naintindihan naman natin, importante po ang turismo, karagdagang trabaho, at sa industriya ng turismo, malaking tulong po ito.  Pag may mga turista, may mga mabibigyan po ng trabaho sa kanilang mga lugar,” he said, while stressing the need for sustainable tourism development that strictly adheres to environmental laws and regulations, ensuring no violations occur.

He argued for the critical need to protect the environment as a defense against these and other climate change-related challenges.

“Dapat po, ’yung proteksyunan natin, protektahan po natin ang environment. ‘Yun na lang po ang ating tanging sangga sa anumang pagbabaha o sa anumang epekto ng climate change,” he added.

Loyzaga, in an interview over DZRH, narrated how one Edgar Buton, a seaman, brought the titled Chocolate Hills property in 2007, when it was still not part of the protected area.

In 2018, with Chocolate Hills was already in the protected area list, Buton who owns the Captain’s Peak, applied for the building of an “eco-tourism park”, with the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) approving the application.

“In-approve ito ng PAMB—mga barangay captain, mga mayor, representative ng governor…. Dapat may representatives din ng NGO, academe, private sector…. Halos lahat nang barangay captains voted in 2018 for it,” Loyzaga said.

She said a mayor’s building permit was given in 2020, an additional building permit in Sept. 21, 2022, followed by clearances that include that from the Bureau of Fire Protection, and a business permit from the Department of Trade and Industry.

“Bago mag umpisa ng proyekto, kailan ng ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate)…. Nag-umpisa magbigay ng building permit in 2020, walang ECC yan,” Loyzaga said while emphasizing that she was not yet with DENR that time.

In September 2023, issued a temporary closure of the resort for operating without an ECC.

This came after The Freeman sent a team to Bohol for a special report regarding the said resort and released it in August 2023 that led to the Provincial Government’s investigation of the said resort.

A notice of violation was issued with Captain’s Peak making an appeal.

“Between that time in November 2023…gawa na po ang resort, gawa na. Pinayagan ng LGU na ipagawa yun, na habang walang ECC…. Pinuna ng DENR, notice of violation…nagka-viral na po. At ngayon, may cease and desist order sila sa operation po nila,” Loyzaga said.

Now, the resort may negatively impact Bohol being a UNESCO Geopark, which was declared in 2023.

“With the designation of Bohol being a Geopark, napakahigpit ang rules and standard…. ‘Pag na-designate kayo ng UNESCO, napakahigpit po ng mga rules and standards niyan para papasok at ma-maintain ang Geopark status…. I-evaluate namin…according to the law,” Loyzaga said.

She also said that while DENR is part of PAMB, it has no regular voting rights within the body.

“Sa PAMB, walang boto ang DENR…. May toon lang po siyang boto kung may tie…. Only to break tie, ganun po ang batas. Pinag-aralan naming, as legal basis, lahat ng ito, kung maaring mapasara at hindi na mabuksan,” she said.-(Cebu news)