By I. Inojales | 11:01 AM September 18, 2025
TAGBILARAN CITY – The planned increase in entrance fees at the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen has sparked concerns among tourists and residents, prompting Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado to urge the municipal government to reconsider the move.
Aumentado said the Chocolate Hills are not just a municipal attraction but a national treasure and a global tourism brand that represents both Bohol and the Philippines.
“We are asking the LGU of Carmen to maintain the status quo on its plan to raise the entrance fee at the Chocolate Hills,” the governor said, stressing that sudden increases could discourage tourists.
He added that the provincial government is ready to engage in discussions with Carmen officials to identify alternative revenue sources and possible joint management schemes that would allow the municipality to generate income without driving visitors away.
Carmen is set to enforce the new rates beginning October 1, 2025, under Municipal Ordinance No. 27, Series of 2023. Adult visitors from outside Bohol will be charged P150, while Bohol residents will pay P75. Children aged 6 to 12 will be charged P75 for non-Bohol visitors and P25 for residents. Children five years old and below will remain free.
Mayor Conchita Toribio-Delos Reyes acknowledged the public’s concerns over the increase but maintained that the policy is necessary. She explained that the additional revenue will help sustain municipal programs, fund rehabilitation and improvement works at the Chocolate Hills Complex, and enhance services for visitors.
“We understand this change may cause disappointment, and we share your concerns,” Toribio-Delos Reyes said. “However, we are duty-bound to comply with the updated policy as mandated by the ordinance.”
Beyond their designation as a National Geological Monument in 1988, the Chocolate Hills have become the centerpiece of Bohol’s tourism industry. With more than 1,268 cone-shaped limestone hills stretching across the landscape, the site not only captivates thousands of visitors each year but also serves as a national symbol that defines the province’s identity and promotes the Philippines on the global stage. With a report from Helen Castaño
