Mayon Volcano emits steam and lava in the early morning of June 27, 2023 in Legazpi City, Albay. Mac Obrero Tataro, ABS-CBN News/File

LEGAZPI CITY — The controversial Mayon Volcano Heritage Aesthetic Lighting Project, initially estimated to cost P1.3 billion, has been cancelled amid intense public backlash, with critics asking whether the project is at all necessary.

The project was proposed as a tourism initiative to enhance the visibility of the iconic volcano at night.

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), through its project consultant Solar Surveying Corporation, conducted public consultations in the towns of Daraga and Sto. Domingo in Albay on March 22 to 23.

OPPOSITIONS

However, the hearings were marred by poor coordination and lack of transparency, as some attendees claimed they were unaware of the meetings until they saw social media posts about them.

"There’s no clear announcement of the schedule, and tourism stakeholders are kept in the dark... I never received any formal letter about this consultation meeting," Jessica Wong, the president of the Association of Accredited Travel Agencies in Bicol, said in a Facebook post.

Following the consultations, the provincial government of Albay issued a statement on March 24 urging TIEZA to scrap the project altogether. 

Acting governor Baby Glenda Ong Bongao emphasized that the feasibility study failed to consider Albay’s designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and its ongoing nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Diocese of Legazpi also opposed the project, warning that it could damage the natural and sacred beauty of Mayon.

Bishop Joel Baylon and local clergy stressed that the volcano “needs to be left alone” and urged that the funds be redirected to more pressing needs such as road lighting, flood control, and social services.

CONCERNS

Environmental lawyer Taikee Calleja raised serious legal concerns over the project’s compliance with environmental laws and budget transparency.

“Mayon Volcano is part of a protected area. Any infrastructure there requires a full environmental assessment, including consultations with local stakeholders. This project affects multiple municipalities, yet there was no widespread consultation. If there’s no proper consultation, they can’t secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate,” he explained.

On Tuesday, Legazpi City Mayor Alfredo Garbin posted on his Facebook page a copy of a Notice of Termination where TIEZA officially declared the cancellation of the procurement process for the project.

REMAINING FUNDS

However, the absence of a specific date on the document has raised concerns among stakeholders, casting doubt on whether the project was genuinely and permanently shelved.

While TIEZA canceled the P500 million procurement, the remaining P750 million allocated for 2025 remains unaddressed, raising concerns over the fate of the remaining funds allocated for the project.

This is not the first time the lighting project has been proposed and subsequently abandoned. 

A similar plan in 2019 was also scrapped after being deemed economically and environmentally unfeasible.

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