Cong. Edgar Chatto pushed for a meeting of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) along with the communities affected by the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) law.
This as House Bill No. 10438 entitled “AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE COVERAGE OF THE CHOCOLATE HILLS NATURAL MONUMENT(CHNM), AMENDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE CHNM PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMEMT BOARD, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES IN RELATION TO RA 11038 OR THE EXPANDED NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM (E-NIPAS), AS AMENDED, is pending approval in Congress.
Chatto was able to meet with DENR Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga and Usec. Carlos Primo David on July 30 regarding the legislation filed by Congresswomen Alexie Tutor, Vanessa Aumentado and Chatto with Palawan Congressman Jose Pepito Alvarez to propose amendements to the E-NIPAS Law.
The measure seeks to ensure the protection and preservation of the Chocolate Hills but at the same time respect the rights and interests of private individuals as well as local government units existing prior to its declaration as protected areas.
Chatto said the meeting of relevant agencies with affected communities in Bohol will address urgent development concerns of local residents and LGUs facing the dilemma on protection and preservation in relation to growth and development.
Meanwhile, the Chocolate Hills National Monument (CHNM) Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) convened on the following day, July 31.
DENR-7 Officer-in-Charge Regional Executive Director (OIC RED) Charlie Fabre presided over the meeting that presented the proposed amendment to the House Bill that the Bohol representatives filed in May.
The meeting sought the insights and opinions of CHNM PAMB members that will be among discussion points in the bill deliberation in Congress.
The DENR presented an inventory of the CHNM and tackled guidelines on compliance to the law while awaiting the process of amending the ENIPAS law.
In the present setup, development initiatives and infrastructure programs have been stalled due to the policy.
In related news, the Local Government of Batuan, among gravely affected by the ENIPAS law provisions, held a prayer rally on the evening of July 31, to lobby the amendment to the ENIPAS law.
The proposed bill seeks to address concerns specific to the Chocolate Hills, spread across the second and third districts with one hill in Catigbian, in the boundary of Sagbayan and Batuan.
It ensures the preservation and protection of all 1,776 hills, timberland areas and 20-meter buffer zone and provides for the regulated use of the remaining flatlands outside of the 20-meter drawback.
The measure also aims to expand the membership of the PAMB to include the Department of Tourism, Religious Group, National Museum, UNESCO Management Council of Bohol, Environmental Planners and Architect Group with operations within the area or within the province.