Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado welcomed the positive outcome of deliberations on House Bill No. 831 under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System, which reclassifies portions of the protected landscape.
The bill provides that from the original 1,776 hills, only 642 will remain under strict protection.
“From the original 1,776 hills, only 642 will remain under strict protection.”
The 1,134 hills will be designated as Local Conservation Areas managed by local government units (LGUs), a move seen to support economic opportunities and ease land ownership concerns.
Aumentado expressed gratitude to the House Committee on Natural Resources and local officials.
“We are grateful to the Congressional Committee on Natural Resources, Congresswoman Alexie Tutor, along with our colleague Congresswoman Van-van, for prioritizing this bill,” the governor said.
He appealed for their continued support for the measure and the recognition of Carmen, Sagbayan, and Batuan as the Chocolate Hills Geological Monument.
“We will continue to support this bill in the House of Representatives.”
“We will continue to support this bill in the House of Representatives. We will appeal for support for Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan to be recognized as Chocolate Hills Geological Monument (CHGM),” Aumentado said.
“We are also grateful to our Sangguniang Panlalawigan, headed by Vice Governor Nick Besas, chairperson of the SP Committee on Natural Resources BM Jamie Aumentado-Villamor, DENR officials such as PENRO-Bohol Jose Cleo Colis, CENRO-Tagbilaran Glicerita Racho, CENRO-Talibon Edgar Ricafort and the relevant LGUs,” he concluded.
