By Helen Castaño | 05:26 PM September 27, 2025
The Municipality of Carmen has announced the deferment of the planned increase in the entrance fee at the Chocolate Hills Complex, which was originally scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2025.
In a letter addressed to Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Carmen Mayor Conchita Toribio-Delos Reyes said the local government unit (LGU) decided to hold off the implementation of the new rates under the Local Revenue Code (Ordinance No. 27, Series of 2023).
The mayor emphasized the need for a joint review and market assessment with the LGU, the Provincial Tourism Office, the Provincial Tourism Council, and other stakeholders to determine the optimal timing for the fee adjustment.
She also recommended including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument Protected Area Management Board (CHNM PAMB) in the process, noting that projects tied with PAMB guidelines should focus on visible and tangible upgrades. These include facility improvements, enhanced amenities, and other interventions designed to elevate the overall visitor experience.
“Let us continue to promote the Chocolate Hills as the show window of tourism in our province as we work towards a shared goal of making Bohol a premier and welcoming destination,”Delos Reyes said.
The deferment comes amid efforts to balance tourism development with accessibility, ensuring that the iconic Chocolate Hills remains both attractive and welcoming to visitors while supporting sustainable growth for the local community.
