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A screenshot from a drone video of the Captain’s Peak resort at the foot of Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan, Bohol shot on March 14, 2024. Froilan Billones, ABS-CBN News

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Other establishments around Chocolate Hills say they have 'complete documents'

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1710565730080vlcsnap-error848.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A screenshot from a drone video of the Captain’s Peak resort at the foot of Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan, Bohol shot on March 14, 2024. Froilan Billones, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A screenshot from a drone video of the Captain’s Peak resort at the foot of Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan, Bohol shot on March 14, 2024. <em>Froilan Billones, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">SAGBAYAN, Bohol — At least two other establishments built on or beside the Chocolate Hills in the towns of Sagbayan and Carmen in Bohol have expressed confidence that they will not suffer the same fate as Captain&#x27;s Peak Resort. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Speaking on conditions of anonymity, staff of the two establishments say that following the controversy hounding Captain&#x27;s Peak, they too felt anxious.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Siyempre baka pati kami pagdiskitahan. Pero baka hindi rin kasi kumpleto naman kami ng papeles, lalo na yung ECC,&quot; one said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(We were afraid that we might experience the same thing. But then again, we might not because we have complete documents, especially the environmental compliance certificate [ECC.])</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/13/viral-chocolate-hills-resort-ordered-closed-due-to-violation-denr-1512"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/13/viral-chocolate-hills-resort-ordered-closed-due-to-violation-denr-1512">After Captain&#x27;s Peak went viral</a></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, photos of Sagbayan Peak and Bud Agta floated on social media with netizens calling on government to also inspect the establishments. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>WATCH:</strong></span></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2988475"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on Friday said that the public played a big part in putting to light challenges faced by the environment. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/16/dilg-to-create-task-force-after-viral-chocolate-hills-resort-1059"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/16/dilg-to-create-task-force-after-viral-chocolate-hills-resort-1059">READ: DILG task force to look into viral Chocolate Hills resort</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;What we can do is actually be proactive as what we&#x27;re doing now in looking into other areas in this region, but really concentrating on Chocolate Hills first. Kasi mukhang ang daming kailangang tingnan pa in terms of the other establishments operating,&quot; she said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">On Thursday, Felito Pon, Executive Secretary of Sagbayan&#x27;s Mayor, told ABS-CBN News that staff from the municipal tourism office visited Sagbayan Peak to check their documents. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ABS-CBN News obtained copies of Sagbayan Peak&#x27;s ECC. According to the document, Sagbayan Peak consists of a viewing deck, a multipurpose building, and a swimming pool.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The ECC also laid out conditions including the posting of a billboard, specifying it has been given an ECC. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1710565777960031624_Sagbayan Peak ECC.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The first page of the environmental compliance certificate of Sagbayan Peak. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The first page of the environmental compliance certificate of Sagbayan Peak. <em>Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bud Agta in the town of Carmen also has the same billboard erected at the entrance of its trail to the viewing deck. Staff say that Mayor Conchita Delos Reyes also visited the establishment on Thursday to check their permits.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1710565812039031624_bud agta billboard ECC.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A billboard in front of Bud Agta Hill indicating that it has been issued an environmental compliance certificate. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A billboard in front of Bud Agta Hill indicating that it has been issued an environmental compliance certificate. <em>Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The DENR also clarified the notion that ECCs function as permits. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;The ECC is not a permit. It&#x27;s actually a planning tool which guides everyone on a particular project by identifying what the possible impacts of a project could be on the community of a general area,&quot; said DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Earlier this week, netizens expressed outrage on social media after a video promoting the &quot;beauty&quot; of Capitan&#x27;s Peak Resort went viral. The resort sits on three hectares of land owned by a certain Edgar Buton. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Captain&#x27;s Peak has a swimming pool, water slides, and cottages nestled at the bottom of three Chocolate Hills. </span></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2986690"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/3/13/celebrities-netizens-express-concern-over-resort-in-chocolate-hills-1802"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/3/13/celebrities-netizens-express-concern-over-resort-in-chocolate-hills-1802">READ: Celebrities, netizens express concern over resort in Chocolate Hills</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/13/manager-admits-controversial-chocolate-hills-resort-has-no-environment-certificate-722"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/13/manager-admits-controversial-chocolate-hills-resort-has-no-environment-certificate-722">READ: Manager of controversial Chocolate Hills resort admits not being able to acquire environment certificate</a></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Its manager, Buton&#x27;s sister, acknowledged that among the conditions of the Protected Area Management Bureau resolution endorsing the project includes securing an ECC. However, the management was not able to apply for it right away, citing challenges brought by the pandemic. Their application for an ECC was only lodged last year. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The DENR, however, said that it remains unsure whether they will be allowed to reopen due to a series of other potential violations. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Captain&#x27;s Peak Resort is now closed with a huge sign of a cease and desist order propped by its entrance. The DENR says it will continuously monitor and ensure the order is being fully implemented.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/14/captain-s-peak-business-permit-revoked-1653"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/14/captain-s-peak-business-permit-revoked-1653">READ: Sagbayan LGU revokes Captain&#x27;s Peak business permit</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/14/chocolate-hills-resort-temporarily-closed-gov-eyes-new-ordinance-858"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/14/chocolate-hills-resort-temporarily-closed-gov-eyes-new-ordinance-858">READ: Chocolate Hills resort temporarily closed for &#x27;maintenance, environmental preservation&#x27;</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></span></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2986155"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>At least two other establishments built on or beside the Chocolate Hills in the towns of Sagbayan and Carmen in Bohol have expressed confidence that they will not suffer the same fate as Captain's Peak Resort.</p>

At least two other establishments built on or beside the Chocolate Hills in the towns of Sagbayan and Carmen in Bohol have expressed confidence that they will not suffer the same fate as Captain's Peak Resort.