Bohol expected to be declared Unesco Global Geopark by 2022

By Leo Udtohan 

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE... Your media friends (l-r) Joshua Fullido (dyTR), Elvie Bongosia (PIA), Helen Castaño (Bohol Island News), Rey Tutas (dyRD) and Dave Responte (dyTR) at the Chocolate Hills Complex.  Photo: Leo Udtohan 

For the first time in two years, since the onslaught of the pandemic, I was able to enter the complex last Thursday during the Social Welfare and Development Sec. Erwin Tulfo. 

Tulfo was in Bohol to attend the turnover of classroom buildings and isolation center in Pilar town and livelihood assistance payout in Carmen town.

Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-Delos Reyes invited Tulfo, DSWD staff and volunteers for a "merienda" at the complex. 

"The hills are alive, still beautiful," I gushed when I saw the mounds closer and clearer. 

The beautiful natural scenery at the chocolate hills would weep away sorrows and difficulties in the journey to discover new things, hard but extremely meaningful.

Mayor Che bared she has plans for the chocolate hills to make it a world-class destination. 

Some members of the Bohol media with Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-Delos Reyed and board member Nathaniel Binlod at the Chocolate Hills Complex.

Speaking of chocolate hills, a geological wonder, the  island- province of Bohol is expected to be declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Global Geopark site by 2022.

The Unesco website said that Bohol is one of the seven considered geoparks being nominated by the Global Geoparks Council of the Unesco.

The other six are: Ijen, Indonesia;  Maros Pangkep, Indonesia; Aras, Iran; Waitaki Whitestone, New Zealand; Kinabalu, Malaysia; and Khorat, Thailand.

Should the Unesco Executive Board approve the outcome of the Council during its spring 2023 session, Bohol would become the first Unesco Global Geopark in the Philippines.

The Council will meet again in December 2022, to examine the applications that are currently undergoing evaluation and revalidation missions.  

Gov. Aris Aumentado said that the nomination being the only in the country encourages new motivation with geological heritage values.

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