Mayon Volcano Will Not Be Lit Up, Say Officials
MAYON VOLCANO – The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has decided to cancel the volcano’s lighting project following strong public criticism.
Mayon Volcano, a famous landmark in Albay, Bicol, has been featured in several films, including Langis at Tubig (1980), Kailangan Kita (2002), She’s Dating the Gangster (2014), and Firefly (2023). The project aimed to enhance tourism by installing artificial lights around the volcano.
However, the plan faced widespread opposition after a public consultation last week. Critics argued that the budget—initially reported as PHP500 million but later revealed to be PHP1.3 billion—should be allocated to more urgent needs in the province. Government officials released AI-generated images illustrating how the volcano would appear when lit, but instead of gaining support, this only intensified calls to cancel the project.
The Diocese of Legazpi, led by bishops and priests, strongly opposed the plan. In an official statement, they emphasized that Mayon is already a natural wonder that does not need artificial lighting. They also raised concerns about environmental damage, disruption of wildlife, and the wasteful use of public funds.
The Diocese highlighted that many Albayanos struggle with power outages, poor roads, and unfinished infrastructure projects. They argued that instead of lighting up Mayon, the government should focus on improving roads, enhancing flood control, and ensuring public safety.
Additionally, they warned that artificial lighting could harm the volcano’s ecosystem by disturbing nocturnal animals and disrupting the natural balance. They also pointed out that world-famous volcanoes like Mount Fuji and Everest are not artificially lit, suggesting that such a project could make the country look foolish.
In their final appeal, church leaders urged officials to prioritize meaningful development rather than unnecessary projects. They called for investments in sustainable solutions that would genuinely benefit the people of Albay instead of spending public funds on a project that disregards cultural and environmental values.