Group rejects House bill amending Chocolate Hills protection
TAGBILARAN CITY—An environmental watchdog group in Bohol has reiterated its strong opposition to a proposed measure seeking to amend protections over the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, warning that it could weaken safeguards and open the door to unchecked development.
In a letter dated April 15 and addressed to the House committee on natural resources, chaired by Negros Occidental 2nd District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, Tagbilaran Baywatch called for the rejection of House Bill No. 831, filed by Bohol 3rd District Rep. Alexie Tutor.
The letter was signed by Baywatch spokespersons, lawyer Esther Gertrude Biliran and Leah Wilfreda Echavez, who urged lawmakers to consider their continued opposition during deliberations.
The group said it “respectfully maintains its objection to any amendment” to Republic Act No. 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (e-Nipas) Act, particularly provisions under HB 831 that would significantly alter the scope and management of the iconic hills.
Among the key concerns raised by Baywatch is the proposed reduction of the protected coverage from 1,776 hills to only 642, with 1,134 hills to be downgraded into “local conservation areas” under the management of local government units.
The group warned that such a move “would defeat the purpose of the e-Nipas law,” which is meant to strengthen the protection and sustainability of the country’s protected areas.
Buffer zone
Baywatch also opposed limiting the protected area to just three towns—Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan—thereby excluding other municipalities currently within the monument’s coverage.
It further criticized the proposal to shrink the buffer zone around each hill from 20 meters to 5 meters, saying this would weaken the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ authority to prevent encroachment.
The watchdog group stressed that the Chocolate Hills are valued not only for their iconic cone shape but also for their karst landscape, which plays a crucial role in water systems, biodiversity and carbon storage.
The group also raised concerns that reclassifying a majority of the hills could pave the way for commercial developments such as hotels, swimming pools and condominiums.
It warned that removing national protection could lead to “haphazard and unabated construction,” potentially damaging not only individual hills but also the overall landscape.
Baywatch urged the House panel to reject HB 831 and requested to be invited to future committee hearings.
