The Provincial Board of Bohol will have the application and operation of another tourism business establishment reviewed for alleged encroachment in a protected area, and for other possible irregularities.

Provincial Board Members Jamie Aumentado Villamor and Nathaniel Binlod conducted an onsite inspection of Sta. Fe Beach Resort following complaints from residents against the resort that operated VicTours Recreational Hub in the Municipality of Alburquerque.

Sta. Fe Beach Resort is situated reportedly at the Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected Landscape and Seascape declared as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 1992.

The protected area is 1,165.51 hectares wide covering the towns of Alburquerque, Loay and Loboc.

The protected landscape and seascape is one of 17 protected areas in the province.

VicTours Recreational Hub started offering kayaking, firefly-watching and whale-watching activities in October 2023.

It was learned that VicTours Recreational Hub has a clearance to operate from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) and that its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA) are under processing.

However, on April 8, 2024, an immediate stoppage order was issued by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources.

The resort has moved its belongings and its ticketing office outside of the protected area.

“Let's make things clear po. Unang-una po susunod po tayo sa sinasabi ng batas, itinatakda ng batas. Sa ngayon po, sinunod ko na sila, nasa labas na po tayo ng PA (protected area). Kung magfile, sasabihin nila na complete stoppage, I will ask 'why' because we are not utilizing the PA anymore. Nasa labas na tayo. That place na PA is a public domain, lahat ng tao they are free to go in and out of the place. Ang hangyo ko lang is musulod ta sa atong lugar dili ta magtapon og basura dad-on nato ang atong sariling basura. Sa VicTours po, hipos kami talaga. Ang pinakalaban po talaga before operation: you have to clean, after the operation you have to clean the place. Kami po we do our part para matulungang malinis yung lugar natin,” Victor Garay, proprietor of VicTours Recreational Hub, said to the news team.

Alburquerque is a fifth-class municipality with 11 barangays and a population of at least 11,000. 

The operation of VicTours Recreational Hub is able to provide reportedly 200 jobs to residents.

(via Leo Udtohan, Albert Aballe/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)