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Republic of the Philippines (2 RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES «

Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _831.

Introduced by REP. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR
Third District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The recognition of the whole province of Bohol as the country’ first national geopark
last year by UNESCO, with the Chocolate Hills standing at the center of that international
accolade, is an honor that we sincerely cherish as Boholanos. The Chocolate Hills is not only
our pride, our contribution to the world but, more importantly, it is the symbol of our
commitment to the preservation and protection of the environment. And such commitment
remain steadfast to this day

Asa testament to the importance of this national geological monument, the same has
been subject of the two laws on National Integrated Protected Areas System’ as well as
two Presidential Proclamations

The issue of the Chocolate Hills, however, is not as simple as it seems. Rights and
interests of private individuals as well as local government units exist prior to its declaration
as protected area. And this has consequences which cannot be brushed aside without
prejudice to legal owners of properties within this natural monument. Lives of families and
communities as well economic activities and public service stand to be sacrificed with the
blanket declaration as protected area of almost 14,000 hectares shared by all three
legislative districts of Bohol.

The current issue on the Chocolate Hills has brought to fore this dilemma which the
local government and the constituents of the province has been dealing with for a time already
We take this opportunity, now, as our chance to finally lay to rest and give solution to this real
challenge which us, Boholanos,face everyday. And we do this by harmonizing the need to
protect and preserve our most treasured natural monument as well as the obligation to protect
and promote the rights of our constituents to property and of our local government units in
delivering public service.

Thus, we, the Representatives of all the Legislative Districts of the Province of Bohol,
collectively file this bill seeking to set the boundaries of the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument
and for the government to provide for the just compensation to owners of titled

* Republic Act No. 7586 passed on June 01, 1992 and Republic Act No. 11038 passed on June 22, 2018
2 residential Proclamation No. 1037 issued by President Fidel V. Ramos on July 1, 1997 and Presidential Proclamation No.
333 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on February 26, 2003,

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lots on the Chocolate Hills and within the 20-meter draw back from the baseline of those
hills.

The 20-meter drawback is designated as a buffer zone and multiple use zone while
the Chocolate Hills are the protected area.

The bill ensures owners of the titled properties will receive just compensation and
appraisal of the titled properties will be by the Municipal Assessor or by court order.

The bill also provides that all existing private commercial structures without Protected
Area Management Board (PAMB-CHNM) Clearance and Environmental Compliance
Certificate (ECC) and those that pose detrimental impacts as maybe determined by the
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) will be “subjected to self-demolition for period of
not more than two (2) years.”

The bill allows residential structures within the 20-meter draw back to stay, be
improved, and repaired provided that “no expansion will be conducted and the owner is listed
as tenured migrant.”

The bill lets the owners of the titled lots harvest planted trees, fruit trees and other
agricultural crops as well as engage into small scale livelihood projects.

Membership in the CHNM Protected Area Management Board is expanded to include
the Department of Tourism, National Museum, UNESCO Technical Committee of Bohol,
representatives of religious groups and environmental planners and architects operations
within the area or within the Province of Bohol.

In the new composition of the CHNM PAMB, Senators and Representatives will sit as
ex-officio members of the PAMB without right to vote but shall exercise oversight functions
in the implementation of all plans and programs approved by the PAMB.

Swift passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No.__831_

Introduced by REP. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR
Third District, Bohol

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE COVERAGE OF THE CHOCOLATE HILLS NATURAL
MONUMENT (CHNM), AMENDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE CHNM PROTECTED
AREA MANAGEMENT BOARD, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER RELATED PURPOSES IN RELATION TO RA 11038 OR THE EXPANDED
NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM (E-NIPAS), AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled

‘Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall also be known as the “Chocolate Hills Natural
Monument Act”

Section 2. Coverage of the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument. (CHNM) - The
Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, the original coverage of which was set forth in
Proclamation 1037, series of 1997, and amended by Proclamation 333, series of 2003, is
hereby established to include the protected area of 1,776 hills and timberland areas, and
the buffer zone consisting of the twenty-meter drawback from the baseline of every hill

The protected area shall encompass a total area of 5,883.65 hectares as natural
monument as described in the Technical Description attached to this legislation. (Please
see attachment)

All existing public infrastructures and proposed government projects for public use
within 20-meter drawback therefrom shall be allowed provided that the infrastructures and
projects will not be detrimental to the natural state of the hills and its buffer zone

All titled lots owned by private person and/or corporations within the hills and the

20-meter drawback shall be appraised by the Municipal Assessor or by court order, and
‘subject to just compensation.

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All existing private commercial structures without Protected Area Management
Board (PAMB-CHNM) Clearance and Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and
those that pose detrimental impacts as maybe determined by the Environmental
Management Bureau (EMB) will be subjected to self-demolition for period of not more than
two (2) years.

All existing residential structures prior to ENIPAS within the 20-meter drawback
shall be allowed to remain, improved and repaired, provided that no expansion will be
conducted and the owner is listed as tenured migrant. The owners with titles are allowed
to harvest planted trees, fruit trees and other agricultural crops as well as engage in small
scale livelihood projects. This will be designated as Multiple Use Zone.

Section 3. Exclusions from the CHNM Protected Area. The alienable and
disposable lands, and the flat lands outside the 20-meter drawback that are below
eighteen (18) degrees in slope are excluded from the protected area.

Section 4. Changes to Membership of the CHNM Protected Area Management
Board. The membership of the CHNM PAMB is hereby expanded to include the following

the Department of Tourism, the National Museum, the UNESCO Technical Committee of
Bohol, and representatives of religious groups, and environmental planners and architects
with operations within the area or within the Province of Bohol.

All Senators and District Representatives from the area will sit as ex-officio
members of the PAMB without right to vote but shall exercise oversight functions in the
implementation of all plans and programs approved by the PAMB.

Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within one hundred and
eighty (180) days following the effectivity of this Act, the Implementing Rules and
Regulations specifically for Chocolate Hills Natural Monument shall be adopted and
approved.

Section 6. Appropriations. - The Secretary of the DENR shall immediately
include in the Department's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 7. Suppletory Application of the NIPAS Law, as amended. The
provisions of Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, shall have
suppletory application to this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining sections or provisions with the provisions not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, executive

orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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Section 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approve,

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