Bato: Chocolate Hills resort for locals, Boholanos want it to stay

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Wednesday gave a different point of view on the controversial construction of a resort near Chocolate Hills, saying it was meant to help the local community.

Dela Rosa made the remark after he recently visited Captain's Peak Garden and Resort in Sagbayan town while he participated in a motorcycle tourism event called Bohol Loop.

"Nakita ko, hindi naman talaga 'yung high-end na resort na pwedeng mapagkukunan ng korapsyon, kung halimbawa namba-bribe lang... Yung typical probinsya na, may term nga si governor don...parang 'Bisaya' lang na resort ba. Pag sinabing bisaya, parang low-end na resort pero nakapagdulot ito ng kaligayahan ng mga lokal doon dahil nga meron na silang papasyalan at merong silang maliliguan na swimming pool," Dela Rosa said in a phone interview.

(I saw it was not a high end resort that could be a source of corruption. It's meant for the enjoyment of locals.)

He shared his personal consultations with the locals during his visit and said none of them want to halt the operations of the resort since it is one of their sources of income.

"Unanimous sila doon na nakiusap na, 'Sir, baka pwedeng 'wag na lang 'yan isara, ituloy na lang 'yan dahil kami po ay mga hirap na hirap sa buhay," Dela Rosa said, adding that some of these locals are former communist rebels who surrendered to the government.

(They all asked me if it's possible not to close the resort since many people rely on it for their livelihood.)

"Not even one Boholano na tinanong ko na against doon. Lahat, majority ng natanong ko, I consulted every time makaharap ako ng tao don, I consulted and talagang lahat sila ay pabor na pabor na ipagpatuloy 'yung operation ng Captain's Peak," he said.

(Mist of the people I talked to want the Captin's Peak operations to continue.)

"That's the only pride, pride lang nila ang nand'yan, merong resort sa barangay nila, sa lungsod nila at primary source of income ng mga nakatira doon. 'Yun nga yun ang sa kanila," he added.

(They take pride in a resort in their barangay that is a primary source of income for residents.)

The Senate is set to investigate the controversial resort as several senators questioned the issuance of permits for the construction of such an establishment within a protected area.

For Dela Rosa, these "circumstances" should be considered in the investigation and suggested the crafting of a policy where people can make a living and at the same time, the natural heritage can still be protected.

"'Yung magiging stand ko d'yan is dapat mag-come up 'yung  gobyerno ng polisiya na magkakaroon ng compromise. Dapat 'yung ma-preserve itong mga dapat i-preserve. At the same time, matulungan din itong mga taong nangangailangan ng hanapbuhay at magamit nila 'yung lugar na yan para panghanap buhay nila basta ma-preserve lang 'yung dapat i-preserve," Dela Rosa said.

(My stand is government should come up with a policy that offers compromise. There should be preservation and at the same time assist the people there with employment by maximizing the resources of where they are.)

"Baka pwedeng yung andyan na...ay hayaan na lang pero 'yung mga part ng resort na 'yon na nakakasira sa Chocolate Hills ay tanggalin. Kagaya nu'ng swimming pool, nandoon naman sa flat area...so pwede sigurong hindi na 'yon isama pero meron silang mga structures doon na nakadikit sa portion of the cone ng Chocolate Hills na tinamaan talaga... ay dapat tanggalin," he added.

(Maybe the parts that damaged the Chocolate Hills can be removed but retain others such as the swimming pool since it is located in a flat area.)—RF, GMA Integrated News