Pangalagaan ang Chocolate Hills

ANG Chocolate Hills sa lalawigan ng Bohol ay isa sa mga “prime Philippine attractions” na kinikilala sa buong mundo at pinapasyalan ng napakaraming turista mula sa iba’t ibang bansa.

Ito ay isang kahanga-hangang “geological formation of more than 1,260 hills (but there may be as many as 1,776 hills) spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers.”

Ang kalakhan nito ay kinatatampukan nang napalawak na berdeng damuhan na nagiging kulay brown o tsokolate tuwing tag-araw.

Pero sa paglipas ng panahon ay nagkaroon ng pagkasira ang naturang lugar.

Ayon kay Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, “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 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.”

Kaugnay nito ay isinusulong niya ang Senate Bill 2650 (Chocolate Hills Protection Act… providing penalties for their pillage, defacement and despoil).

Itinatakda ng panukala ang pagdeklara sa Chocolate Hills bilang bahagi ng national patrimony and geological monuments, “for which quarrying or hauling of lime stones, rocks, soil and road materials for whatever purpose is hereby banned and prohibited.”

Ang sinumang lalabag sa naturang hakbangin at magdudulot ng “pillage, destruction or despoil” sa alinmang bahagi ng Chocolate Hills ay mahaharap sa mabigat na parusang pagkakulong ng hanggang mahigit walong taon at pagmumulta ng hanggang P120,000.