12/11/2025
✅ FACT CHECK sa BANAT-I PROJECT DETAILS
Project: Construction of the Regional Cultural Hub
Location: Mt. Banat-i, Barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City
Total Land Owned by the Province in Banat-i Hill: 5.1791 hectares
Owner: Provincial Government of Bohol
Contractor: JA Achacoso Enterprise & General Services
Funding Source: DPWH Region 7
INITIAL FUNDING SPENT: Phase 1 – ₱134,899,899.76
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST: ₱2.3 Billion (2023 estimate)
Proponents: Provincial Government (previous admin) and Congressional Office of the 1st District (previous admin) no need to include names kay wala ta namolitika ani nga post.
📍 FUNDING STATUS (as of November 11, 2025)
During our meeting with DPWH Region 7 yesterday, it was confirmed that there is currently NO AVAILABLE FUNDING for the continuation of the Regional Cultural Hub project.
• NEP 2026 (National Expenditure Program): No Funding
• House General Appropriations Bill 2026 (HGAB): No Funding
• Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam): Possible venue for lobbying
• General Appropriations Act (GAA): Will depend on Presidential approval
🟩 UNIFIED POSITION
Governor Aris Aumentado, Congressman Baba Yap, Mayor Jane Yap, the NCAA, and all other concerned agencies are in full agreement that the ORIGINAL PLAN WILL NOT PROCEED.
In fact, Congressman Baba Yap did not include this project in his 2026 congressional budget, recognizing its potential environmental impact on Tagbilaran City.
However, since public funds have already been utilized and Phase 1 is complete, the structure will be re-designed and transformed into a climate-responsive and environmentally adaptive development.
The new proposal envisions a PUBLIC VIEWING & HIKING/ CULTURAL DECK / OPEN THEATER that will feature a 360-degree panoramic view of Tagbilaran City, Dauis, and Panglao, a space that is open, inclusive, and accessible to all. (Subject to review and approval by all concerned agencies.)
💚 IMPORTANTE ANG MAY ALAM
Did you know that this is not the only proposed development in the Banat-i Hill area?
For full transparency, here are the other officially recorded project applications within the vicinity:
🏛️ Hall of Justice
• Proponent: Provincial Government of Bohol (donated lot)
• Status: ❌ No approved building permit yet
• Note: Currently under discussion for possible relocation to another area apil sa gi meetingan with Gov Aris ug ni suwat pod ko mismo ni Chief Justice ani
🏘️ Rose Ligason Subdivision
• Proponent: Private developer
• Status: ❌ No approved building permit yet
⛪ Diocese of Tagbilaran
• Proponent: Religious institution
• Status: ✅ Approved Building Permit (Dec. 18, 2024)
• Land Area: 404 sq m
• Note: mo expire Dec 2025
👉 Transparency and awareness matter, because Banat-i Hill hosts multiple proposed and pending developments, not just one.
⚖️ CLARIFICATION
Let me make this clear: there was no illegal act and no shortcut in the application of the Provincial Government or in the issuance of the building permit.
The property is legally owned by the Provincial Government of Bohol, and the DENR has long declared Banat-i Hill as Alienable and Disposable (A&D) since November 14, 1927.
DENR also issued a certified Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
However, yesterday, I personally appealed to Governor Aris Aumentado to pause this project, not because it is illegal, but because we hold the moral ascendancy to act when lives may be at risk.
We have been awakened by the lessons of Typhoons Tino and Uwan, and by what has recently happened in Cebu, where flooding and slope failures have endangered so many lives.
The threat is getting closer to us, kay silingan ra ta.
As a mother and as your Mayor, I cannot ignore these warnings. We must protect our people before anything else.
🌿 MOVING FORWARD
So the question now is: How can we permanently protect Banat-i Hill?
I am requesting our Sangguniang Panlungsod, led by Vice Mayor Adam Jala and our City Councilors and Congressman Baba Yap, to pass an Ordinance/ Congressional Bill declaring Banat-i Hill in Barangay Bool and Elly Hill in Barangay Manga, Tiptip & Ubujan as URBAN BIODIVERSITY ZONES.
It ensures that we grow with balance, conscience, and care.
🙏 Thank you to the Provincial Government of Bohol led by Gov Aris Aumentado, Cong Baba Yap, DPWH, DENR, NCAA & my CITYHALL FAMILY 💚 for choosing to stand united in protecting what truly matters.
💚 For Tagbilaran. For our people. For the generations after us.
✅ FACT CHECK sa BANAT-I PROJECT DETAILS
Project: Construction of the Regional Cultural Hub
Location: Mt. Banat-i, Barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City
Total Land Owned by the Province in Banat-i Hill: 5.1791 hectares
Owner: Provincial Government of Bohol
Contractor: JA Achacoso Enterprise & General Services
Funding Source: DPWH Region 7
INITIAL FUNDING SPENT: Phase 1 – ₱134,899,899.76
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST: ₱2.3 Billion (2023 estimate)
Proponents: Provincial Government (previous admin) and Congressional Office of the 1st District (previous admin) no need to include names kay wala ta namolitika ani nga post.
📍 FUNDING STATUS (as of November 11, 2025)
During our meeting with DPWH Region 7 yesterday, it was confirmed that there is currently NO AVAILABLE FUNDING for the continuation of the Regional Cultural Hub project.
• NEP 2026 (National Expenditure Program): No Funding
• House General Appropriations Bill 2026 (HGAB): No Funding
• Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam): Possible venue for lobbying
• General Appropriations Act (GAA): Will depend on Presidential approval
🟩 UNIFIED POSITION
Governor Aris Aumentado, Congressman Baba Yap, Mayor Jane Yap, the NCAA, and all other concerned agencies are in full agreement that the ORIGINAL PLAN WILL NOT PROCEED.
In fact, Congressman Baba Yap did not include this project in his 2026 congressional budget, recognizing its potential environmental impact on Tagbilaran City.
However, since public funds have already been utilized and Phase 1 is complete, the structure will be re-designed and transformed into a climate-responsive and environmentally adaptive development.
The new proposal envisions a PUBLIC VIEWING & HIKING/ CULTURAL DECK / OPEN THEATER that will feature a 360-degree panoramic view of Tagbilaran City, Dauis, and Panglao, a space that is open, inclusive, and accessible to all. (Subject to review and approval by all concerned agencies.)
💚 IMPORTANTE ANG MAY ALAM
Did you know that this is not the only proposed development in the Banat-i Hill area?
For full transparency, here are the other officially recorded project applications within the vicinity:
🏛️ Hall of Justice
• Proponent: Provincial Government of Bohol (donated lot)
• Status: ❌ No approved building permit yet
• Note: Currently under discussion for possible relocation to another area apil sa gi meetingan with Gov Aris ug ni suwat pod ko mismo ni Chief Justice ani
🏘️ Ligason Residences
• Proponent: Private developer
• Status: ❌ No approved subdivision permit yet
⛪ Diocese of Tagbilaran
• Proponent: Religious institution
• Status: ✅ Approved Building Permit (Dec. 18, 2024)
• Land Area: 404 sq m
• Note: mo expire Dec 2025
👉 Transparency and awareness matter, because Banat-i Hill hosts multiple proposed and pending developments, not just one.
⚖️ CLARIFICATION
Let me make this clear: there was no illegal act and no shortcut in the application of the Provincial Government or in the issuance of the building permit.
The property is legally owned by the Provincial Government of Bohol, and the DENR has long declared Banat-i Hill as Alienable and Disposable (A&D) since November 14, 1927.
DENR also issued a certified Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
However, yesterday, I personally appealed to Governor Aris Aumentado to pause this project, not because it is illegal, but because we hold the moral ascendancy to act when lives may be at risk.
We have been awakened by the lessons of Typhoons Tino and Uwan, and by what has recently happened in Cebu, where flooding and slope failures have endangered so many lives.
The threat is getting closer to us, kay silingan ra ta.
As a mother and as your Mayor, I cannot ignore these warnings. We must protect our people before anything else.
🌿 MOVING FORWARD
So the question now is: How can we permanently protect Banat-i Hill?
I am requesting our Sangguniang Panlungsod, led by Vice Mayor Adam Jala and our City Councilors and Congressman Baba Yap, to pass an Ordinance/ Congressional Bill declaring Banat-i Hill in Barangay Bool and Elly Hill in Barangay Manga, Tiptip & Ubujan as URBAN BIODIVERSITY ZONES.
It ensures that we grow with balance, conscience, and care.
🙏 Thank you to the Provincial Government of Bohol led by Gov Aris Aumentado, Cong Baba Yap, DPWH, DENR, NCAA & my CITYHALL FAMILY 💚 for choosing to stand united in protecting what truly matters.
💚 For Tagbilaran. For our people. For the generations after us.
