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NewsTranscript
00:00 First of all, the controversial resort in the middle of Chocolate Hills, we will talk to the mayor of Sagbayan, Felito Pon,
00:06 municipal information officer and executive secretary of the office of the mayor of Sagbayan, Bohol. Good morning.
00:14 Good morning to you too sir Arnold.
00:19 This is the question of many. Why was this resort built and operated in Chocolate Hills?
00:28 What was the basis for this?
00:32 This is a big process. It started I think in 2018.
00:43 There were applications here and we are referring it to the Protected Area and Management Board because a proposed establishment is in the protected area.
01:01 Is the construction of the resort completed or is it still ongoing?
01:07 There's an ongoing construction. The DNR just issued a temporary closure order yesterday.
01:25 But the DNR said that they have a closure order for September 2023.
01:33 We learned yesterday that they're not giving us a copy of the closure order, the temporary closure order.
01:46 We don't know that there's a temporary closure order. If we know the temporary closure order, we cannot read it in the application for renewal.
01:58 Mr. Pon, despite the fact that Bohol is a protected area and is recognized by the United Nations, how many percent of the land here is private?
02:11 In what area?
02:15 Yes, in Chocolate Hills. It's said that even though it's a protected area, it's owned by the private owners.
02:25 That's true. It was a titled land back in 1996. Former President Fidel Valdez-Ramos issued that title.
02:39 Yes. But it's mentioned that this is a protected area since 1996. The owner is saying... Is the administrator's brother, Julieta Sablos, right?
02:55 Is Ms. Julieta Sablos still an administrator?
03:00 She's the management, manager of Captain's Peak Resort.
03:06 Sir, if it's 1996 or 1997 protected areas, the title of Captain's Resort was obtained in 2005.
03:16 It's said that the owner is selling the title to Mr. Edgar Boton, the owner of Captain's Peak.
03:25 Yes. Administrator Julieta Sablos is the brother, right?
03:31 Sir, that's true.
03:35 If it's a protected area of 1996-1997 under FVR administration, it's prohibited to have a title after Houdan.
03:44 They obtained the title in 2005.
03:47 (inaudible)
04:15 We don't accept that because it's between the... I think you issued a certificate of title.
04:25 Yes. So Mr. Pond, they are complete with all the permits.
04:34 They also obtained the DENR when they built the resort.
04:39 They have a protected area for dilution in 2018.
04:52 They also have a resolution for 2020 endorsing the approval of the resort. They are not endorsing it. It's in the DENR.
05:09 So, the resort is closed today?
05:14 (inaudible)
05:35 So you have the power to get the permit back?
05:39 (inaudible)
06:06 Okay. Mr. Pond, aside from the resort, please confirm the road to Barangay Canmano.
06:20 They have already collected some parts of Chocolate Hills to make it beautiful.
06:28 Did you continue that project?
06:30 After investigations of the San Juan de Ang Panlalawigan ng Bohol, it's a joint hearing of tourism and environment.
06:42 We are there, we are the provincial environment and natural resources officer.
06:50 We are correcting the wrong impression because that road already exists.
06:59 The Captain's Peak is not there yet. It's a barangay road network connecting Libertad Norte and Barangay Canmano. It already exists.
07:09 So Chocolate Hills needs to be destroyed to make a road?
07:14 It's not destroyed. It's not destroyed yet.
07:20 What we were doing last year was like a rehabilitation repair because the barangay has a request.
07:33 So now the access road is already built?
07:38 The DIN and the government stopped it. We are still working on it and we are rectifying the rehabilitation.
07:54 Okay. Mr. Pond, aside from the resort, the road structure, what other constructions are being done in Chocolate Hills?
08:05 They are ongoing construction but we stopped their function hall.
08:15 What?
08:16 Their function hall, we stopped it yesterday.
08:22 Just yesterday?
08:24 Yesterday. We did not receive a temporary closure order from the DIN.
08:35 Okay.
08:36 Through the social media yesterday, we learned that it already exists. It was last year.
08:44 So we should have been informed. We were given a copy of the temporary closure order to be able to adopt.
08:53 Okay. Aside from the function hall of the resort, are there other constructions there?
09:01 There are other... like cottages there.
09:13 Aside from the function hall, we stopped it.
09:20 Aside from this resort, are there other constructions being done in Chocolate Hills?
09:28 None.
09:31 None. We have information that someone applied for a zip line.
09:37 We have seen someone applying for a zip line.
09:42 Yes.
09:43 Maybe in other towns.
09:45 That also has Chocolate Hills.
09:47 It's scattered actually to three or five.
09:57 Ah.
09:58 We have four to five municipalities.
10:04 Okay. So it's clear that even though this is a protected area, the private owners of the land around Chocolate Hills can do whatever they want, but it's limited to the orders of the LGU.
10:27 Yes. Because it's regulated, there are restrictions. Even though it's a protected area, the private sector should follow the order of the DINR.
10:40 Even though it's a protected area, there are still restrictions and regulations that they should follow.
10:49 Thank you very much.
10:52 Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
10:57 Thank you very much.
11:00 (In Tagalog)
11:14 (In Tagalog)