National Geological Monuments of the Philippines

National Geological Monuments (NGM) is a declaration bestowed on landforms and features within Philippines possessing geological significance and uniqueness, as evaluated by the National Committee on Geological Sciences.

Background

St. Paul Limestone formation National Geological Monument (NGM) marker

The National Committee on Geological Sciences was created via Executive order no. 625 on October 8, 1980. This committee is under the Office of the President of the Philippines, which consists of 21 government agencies headed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). ^[1]

Among the committee's programs was the establishment of National Geological Monuments, ^{[1] [2]} a declaration on landforms and geological features within the Philippines with high scientific, educational or aesthetic value worthy of protection, preservation and conservation. ^[3]

List

As of 2024, there are 7 declared National Geological Monuments in the Philippines. ^[4]

NGM name	Location	Date of declaration	Reference
WawaDamjf5989 08 Montalban Gorge	Rodriguez, Rizal	September 10, 1983	[1] [5]
Taal volcano crater Taal Volcano	Batangas Province	June 18, 1988	[6]
Laoag Sand Dunes facing coast close-up (La Paz, Laoag, Ilocos Norte; 11–17–2022) Ilocos Norte Sand dunes	Laoag, Ilocos Norte	November 26, 1993	[7]
Chocolate Hills Bohol Chocolate Hills	Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, Bohol Island	June 18, 1988	[8] [9]
A pieces of land in the islands of Hundred Islands, Pangasinan Hundred Islands	Alaminos city, Pangasinan	September 14, 2001	[1] [10]
Palawan Limestones near Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park St. Paul Limestone Formation	Puerto Princesa, Palawan	December 11, 2003	[11]
Loon 7 earthquake Loon- Maribojoc Geological Monument	Loon and Maribojoc, Bohol Island	May 14, 2015	[12] [4] [13]
Biri Rock Formation	Biri, Northern Samar	June 4, 2025	[14]

Other considered sites

• Asik Asik Falls in Alamada, Cotabato ^[15]

Threats and controversies

• In 2015, the declaration of the Loon-Maribojoc Geological monument as National Geologic Monument was opposed by the local government of Loon, inciting debates on the legality of the DENR in declaring the site as such ^[16]
• In 2024, a Facebook post from Captain's Peak Resort went viral for its modification and seeming destruction of parts of the protected area of the Chocolate Hills National park, ^[17] prompting increased public scrutiny. Investigations revealed more resorts of a similar resorts. ^{[18] [19]} This resulted in the suspension of some Bohol mayors and other local officials. ^[20]

References

1. Maac-Aguilar, Yolanda. "Geoheritage of the Philippines". Geoheritage of East and Southeast Asia (PDF). Institut Alam Sekitar dan Pembangunan (LESTARI); Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programs in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP). p. 189.
2. "Geology and Paleontology – National Museum" . Retrieved October 12, 2024.
3. "Geocon 2001 Article". geolsocphil.org. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
4. Aquino, Richard S. "Geotourism: An innovative form of tourism for development in the Philippines".
5. "Montalban Gorge".
6. "Taal Volcano".
7. Journal of the Geological Society of the Philippines. Geological Society of the Philippines. 2008.
8. "National Committee on Geological Sciences Homepage - Monuments (Chocolate Hills)". ncgs.tripod.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
9. "Senate Bill 916" (PDF).
10. Cocal, Christopher J. "Ecotourism Development and Conservation of the Hundred Islands National Park, Philippines" (PDF).
11. "National Geological Site | Drupal". undergroundriver.puertoprincesa.ph. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
12. Sunnexdesk (June 16, 2015). "Bohol coastal areas declared national geological monument". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
13. "Dao 2015-08 | PDF | Earth Sciences | Nature". Scribd. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
14. Gabieta, Joey (June 7, 2025). "Samar's Biri rock formations now a 'national geological monument'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
15. Inquirer, Philippine Daily (January 8, 2020). "MGB backs declaration of Cotabato waterfalls as 'geological monument'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
16. Quintas, Kristine B. "DENR order on 'uplifted' areas opposed". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
17. Lim, Ron. "DENR issues statement on viral Chocolate Hills resort in Bohol". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
18. jsitchon0312 (March 18, 2024). "TIMELINE: The Chocolate Hills resort controversy". RAPPLER. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
19. "Two more resorts spotted built in Chocolate Hills". DZRH News. March 15, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
20. Obedencio, Ric. "Local execs decry suspension over Chocolate Hills issue". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.