The Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort, nestled in the scenic area of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, faces potential permanent closure following a backlash over its establishment. Despite the resort’s management claiming they possess the necessary permits, including approvals from relevant agencies before construction, the site was temporarily shut down by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Bohol.
Julieta Sablas, related to the resort owner Edgar Buton, expressed her distress over the negative public reaction and emphasized that the development did not involve altering the natural Chocolate Hills. Acquired in 2005, the land, inclusive of three hills, was developed into a resort, which opened in 2022 after receiving a permit from the DENR-Protected Area Management Board in 2018 and a business permit from the local government of Sagbayan in 2019.
The resort, which recently hosted a swimming competition and offered affordable recreational access to local residents, now confronts challenges related to environmental compliance. Although the DENR acknowledges private ownership within the protected areas, any development requires stringent environmental approvals.
Amidst this controversy, the resort lacks an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and is not accredited by the Department of Tourism. The DENR issued a notice of violation to the resort for constructing without the ECC, leading to a temporary closure order that the resort management hopes to overturn, citing substantial investments and compliance efforts.
This situation underscores the delicate balance between development and environmental conservation, especially in nationally recognized and protected landscapes like the Chocolate Hills, now a UNESCO-designated global geopark.