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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 JLIL -2 I .J 
' 
. I  
First Regular Session 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine Constitution under Section 16, Article II declares 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 pf 
the Boholanos, the Chocolate Hills in the towns of Carmen, Sagbayan and 
Batual, 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 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 
status as national patrimony and geological monuments. 
With the foregoing intentions, the early approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
J 
GO 
JERCITOESTRA A 
u e n a t o r  
I 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 534 
9 4  
INTRODUCED BY SEN. 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 House of Representatives of fhe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Shod Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Chocolate 
Hills Protection Act of 2007." 
SEC 2. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms are hereby defined as follows: 
2. 
3. 
1. 
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 of 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 of 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. 
SEC 3. Declaration offolicy- It is hereby the 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, Manti-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, 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. 
SEC 4. National Patrimony 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. 
SEC 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 P120,OOO.OO; 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,OOO.OO 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 (1) day to eight (8) years and four 
(4) months and a fine of P60,OOO to P84,OOO. 
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 of the Court shall impose the accessory penalty of 
perpetual disqualification to hold public office. 
SEC 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. 
SEC 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act 
shall be deemed repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,