‘Kontrobersiyal’ na resort sa Chocolate Hills ikinandado ng DENR

INIUTOS kahapon ngDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang ‘temporary closure order’ laban sa nag- viral na resort sa Chocolate Hills ng Bohol.

Sinabi ng DENR, naglabas sila ng temporary closure order noong Setyembre 2023 at ng notice of violation noong Enero 2024 laban sa Captain’s Peak Resort dahil nag-o-operate ito nang walang Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Pahayag ng ahensya, inatasan nito ang environmental office ng Bohol na lumikha ng isang team at siyasatin ang pagsunod ng resort sa temporary closure order.

Nabanggit ng DENR na ang Chocolate Hills ay idineklarang isang protektadong lugar noong 1997 upang mapanatili ang iconic na tanawin nito at itaguyod ang sustainable tourism.

“If a land was titled prior to an area’s designation as a protected area, the rights and interests of the landowner will generally be recognized and respected,” paliwanag ng DENR.

“However, the declaration of the area as a protected area may impose certain restriction or regulations on land use and development within the protected area, even for privately-owned lands. These restrictions and regulations are to be detailed in the Environmental Impact Statement prior to the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the project,” dagdag na pahayag ng ahensiya.

Ang Chocolate Hills sa Bohol ay idineklara bilang pambansang geological monument ng United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noong 1988 bilang pagkilala sa kanyang pang-agham na kahalagahan at geomorphic uniqueness. (ALMAR DANGUILAN)