The local government of Sagbayan, Bohol, has annulled the business permit of Captain’s Peak Resort, a lodging establishment controversially located within the Chocolate Hills, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-recognized national geological monument. The revocation, disclosed by Sagbayan information officer Felito Pon during an interview on ANC, comes as a significant response to the resort’s operation amid environmental concerns.
According to Pon, the official order to cease all operations and ongoing construction activities at the resort was issued on Wednesday, and enforcement actions were slated to begin immediately. This move aligns with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) stance, which had previously mandated a temporary shutdown of the resort in the preceding year.
The DENR’s actions, including a temporary closure order issued in September 2023 followed by a notice of violation in January 2024, were predicated on the resort’s lack of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC)—a critical regulatory requirement for operations in ecologically sensitive areas. The resort’s management, however, has contested these claims, asserting a benign relationship with the surrounding landscape. Julieta Sablas, the resort manager, maintained that their operations had not infringed upon the integrity of the Chocolate Hills, emphasizing efforts to preserve the area’s natural beauty and geomorphic uniqueness.
The Chocolate Hills, declared a national geological monument by UNESCO in 1988, are celebrated globally for their distinctive geomorphological features, consisting of at least 1,260 hills spread over an area exceeding 50 square kilometers. The area’s scientific value and unique landscape have made it a critical zone for environmental protection and conservation efforts, underscored by the recent governmental actions against non-compliant establishments like Captain’s Peak Resort.