THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S.B. No. 
98 
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Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution under Section 16, Article I I  deciares that: 
“The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced 
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” 
The Philippine’s contribution to the eight wonders of the world, the pride of the 
Boholanos, the Chocolate Hills in the towns of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, are 
alarmingly facing the possibilities of ruin, defacement and despoil due to the destruction 
of seven hills in Camanayon, Buenos Aires, La Paz Villaflor and La Victoria in Carmen, 
Bohol and in Poblacion and Sta. Catalina in Sagbayan, Bohol. 
This despite the constitutional mandate and the declaration on June 18, 1988 
that the Chocolate Hills is a National Geological Monument by virtue of its exceptional 
characteristics, scientific importance, uniqueness, relevance to the Philippine history 
and heritage, culture and development, importance in the tourism industry as a major 
tourist spot in the country and high scenic value by the National Committee on 
Geological Sciences, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the 
Department of Tourism. 
This proposed legislation seeks to provide stricter penalties for the pillage, 
destruction and defacement of the world famous Chocolate Hills to preserve their 
solitary status as national patrimony and geological monuments. 
With the foregoing intentions, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
PROCLAIMING THE CHOCOLATE HILLS AS NATIONAL PATRIMONY AND 
GEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THEIR 
PILLAGE, DEFACEMENT AND DESPOIL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. 
Short Tifle. - This Act shall be known as the Chocolate Hills 
Protection Act of 2001. 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
are hereby defined as follows: 
1. 
2. 
3. 
Pillage - means the destruction of any of the Chocolate Hills without permit 
from the proper authorities concerned and the required Environment 
Clearance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural 
resources through quarrying or hauling therefrom of limestones, rocks, soil, 
and road surfacing materials or for backfilling in any construction. 
Defacement - means to mar the appearance or disfigure any of the 
Chocolate Hills through any means or device with permit issued by the proper 
authorities concerned. 
Despoil - means to ruin or devastate completely any of the Chocolate Hills 
with permit duly issued by the proper authorities concerned and the 
Environmental Clearance Certificate by the Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources through quarrying or hauling therefrom of limestone, 
rocks, soil, and roads surfacing materials or for backfilling in any construction. 


SECTION 3. Declarafion of Polky- - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to protect and preserve the Chocolate Hills found in the 32 barangays in the 
municipalities of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, province of Bohol, to wit: La Paz, 
Buenos Aires, Tamboan, Alegria, Villaflor, matin-ao, Calatrava, Monte Video, Nueva 
Vida Sur, La Victoria, Muntisunting, Nueva Vida Este, Nueva Vida Norte and Buenavista 
in the Municipality of Carmen, province of Bohol; Sta. Cruz, Aloja, Garcia ana' Behind 
the Clouds in the Municipality of Batuan, Province of Bohol; Sta. Cruz, Sagbayan Sur, 
Katipunan, Ubojan, Canmaya Diot, Libertad Sur, San Vicente Sur, Libertad Norte, 
Camano, Sta. Catalina, Canmaya Centro, Kagawasan, Poblacion and San Agustin in 
the Municipality of Sagbayan, Province of Bohol. 
SECTION 4. National Pafrimony and Geological Monument. - The aforesaid 
Chocolate Hills are hereby declared as National Patrimony and Geological Monuments 
for which quarrying or hauling of limestones, rocks, soil and road materials for whatever 
purpose is hereby banned and prohibited. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - (a) All persons, whether natural or judicial, who 
violates this Act which causes the pillage of any Chocolate Hills shall, upon conviction, 
be punished with an imprisonment of eight (8) years, four (4) months and one (1) day to 
twelve (12) years and a fine of P85,OOO.OO to P12O,000.00; and 
(b) All persons, whether natural or judicial who will violate this Act which causes 
the destruction of any Chocolate Hills shall, upon conviction, be punished with 
an imprisonment of eight (8) years, four (4) months and twelve (12) years and 
a fine of P85,OOO.OO TO P120,000.00; and 
(c) All persons, whether natural or judicial, who will violate this Act which causes 
the defacement of Chocolate Hills shall, upon conviction, be punished with an 
imprisonment of six (6) years and one (I) 
day to eight (8) years and four (4) 
months and a fine of P60,OOO.OO TO P84,OOO.OO 
For purposes of this section, the President, the Chairman of the Board, the 
General Manager and Project Manager, in case of corporation, and the proprietor and 
manager, in case of sole proprietorship, shall be held responsible for the violation 
committed by judicial persons. 
In any of the offense herein-above committed, the Court may order the offender 
to restore the Chocolate Hills thus plundered, destroyed or defaced: Provided, however, 
That in the event the offender or offenders in the commission of any of the offenses the 
Court shall impose the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public 
office. 


SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any part or section of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the other parts or sections of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with any provisions of this Act shall be 
deemed repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effecfivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.