A resort near the Chocolate Hills. The Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort/Facebook  

The local government of Sagbayan, Bohol did not receive an official notice of the temporary closure order against a resort near the Chocolate Hills, a local official said Thursday. 

Had it received a copy of the the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) closure order against the Captain’s Peak Resort, the local government would not have renewed the establishment’s business permit, said Sagbayan executive secretary Felito Pon.

“Alam naman natin na by January or February, yung renewal of applications of business permits and licenses would be done. If only we received that, the official order, right then and there we will prevent, stop the renewal of that business permit,” he said, when asked why the resort was given permits despite operating without an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

This isn’t the first time Captain’s Peak Resort went viral. In August last year, it caught the attention of social media users, which prompted a series of hearings and investigations by the provincial council together with the DENR, Pon said. 

“We have not received any resolution as to the result of those hearings and investigations. But we learned from the media yesterday that there was a temporary closure order by the DENR which was dated September 2023...but was served only in October 18, 2023,” he said.

Julieta Sablas, the resort’s manager, showed ABS-CBN News numerous documents including fire safety certificates and a business permit issued by the local government just this January.

She said these documents prove that the LGU gave them clearance to operate.

Manager of controversial Chocolate Hills resort admits not being able to acquire environment certificate

The resort management has since admitted it did not immediately comply with the ECC requirement due to challenges of securing one especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aside from the revocation of the business permit, a cease-and-desist order was also issued putting a halt to construction of new structures in the resort. 

If there’s anything the local government asks of the DENR, it’s to revisit guidelines and clear out any ambiguities, Pon pointed out. 

“Especially when it comes to protected area. Pero meron ding multiple use zones na sa flat areas, pwedeng magtayo ang may-ari ng lupa provided they comply with the restrictions. Yung 20 percent hindi masyadong clear, from the base to up. Pag malaki yung mound, mas lalong malaki ang 20 percent,” he said. 

(When it comes to protected areas, there are also those labelled at multiple-use zones, where on flat areas a land owner may construct provided they comply with restrictions. The 20 percent from the base up guideline also isn’t clear. If a mound is big, then the 20 percent also increases.)

Asked whether the LGU looks over every requirement and certificate, Pon said the mayor signed the permit on the assumption that the resort complied with requirements. 

“There is a regular presumption on the part of the office of the mayor kasi dadaan yan sa (because it will still go through) MPDC, engineering office, sa MENRO and assessor,” he said. 

Pon said the local government will now be stricter and make sure that all laws pertaining to construction and development of protected areas are complied with. 

Currently, the LGU is looking into another resort among the Chocolate Hills to see if it has all necessary certificates and requirements.