20 Marso 2024, Miyerkules
supports Fire Prevention Month
deepest sympathy to family of the late Danilo Halili
supports Women Month March
joins Christian nations in observance of Lenten season
welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay
Protected areas of Apo has resorts – Tulfo
By Nidz Godino
“These are outside buffer zone, if we base it on what we saw on Google Earth and compare it with the map of Mount Apo,” Sen. Raffy Tulfo said Aside from controversies surrounding construction of resort at Chocolate Hills in Bohol, several business establishments have reportedly sprouted in protected area of Mt. Apo in Davao.
Tulfo raised issue concerning Mt. Apo during privilege speech delivered few days after existence of Captain’s Peak Resort at the Chocolate Hills went viral on social media.
He said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) confirmed existence of commercial establishments, reportedly given two years to operate, around Mt. Apo.
As this developed, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has started investigating circumstances surrounding construction of Captain’s Peak Resort.
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said six-man team of Bohol Task Force was deployed in Sagbayan town to determine liability of local government officials over the matter.
Tulfo received information about construction of several resorts at Mt. Apo National Reserve, including Twin Mountain View Resort, Monte Frio Resort and Villa Recurso.
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He expressed concern about environment, especially since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.last year ordered preservation of Mt. Apo while government is working to include site in list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage Sites.
“This statement of President Marcos was made sometime in October 2023 and because of this, some people in PAMB or Protected Area Management Board of Mount Apo seemed to have panicked,” he said.
“In November 2023, they called for meeting to act against illegal structures at multiple use zones of Mt. Apo and look into decline in forest cover…how come these illegal structures were allowed to operate?” Tulfo asked.
Abalos said Bohol task force would also look into other structures built around Chocolate Hills.
“I have spoken to the team members and told them to list structures… I told them to check surrounding areas and identify if more violations were committed so we can take collective actions,” he said.
Abalos said team would examine pertinent documents that allowed construction of resort despite apparent violations of law.
“How was this allowed…was this allowed or not…most of all, who should be held liable for this?” he asked.
Tulfo enumerated other problems surrounding Mt. Apo, such as land conversion for settlement, water pollution, introduction of foreign exotic species, presence of large communities, increasing population, destructive and inappropriate livelihood and poverty.
“What is the real use of the PAMB…why it seems to be mere display in country’s protected areas?” Tulfo said.
Bohol task force will also look into possible liability and accountability of local government officials and recommend filing of cases against those involved.
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