'All Chocolate Hills structures need to go'

DENR chief: We must restore protected areas

- BELLA CARIASO

All structures at the Chocolate Hills will likely be demolished to restore the protected area, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said yesterday. 

“Looking at this, it is very possible that all of these will have to be demolished and restored because there is a disturbance in the ecology that should not have happened. The restoration needs to happen,” Loyzaga said after visiting the controversial Captain’s Peak Resort in Bohol.

Loyzaga said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is looking into all the structures operating in the protected area.

“We acknowledge that we need sources of livelihood, it is important to the economy. We have different framing not only for ecotourism but also conservation tourism,” Loyzaga added.

For his part, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said there should be a moratorium on the construction of establishments at the Chocolate Hills.