Dahil sa mga batikos na natatanggap ng Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), hindi na matutuloy ang plano at proyektong pailawan ang makasaysayang Mayon Volcano.
Naging imortal ang Mayon Volcano, na matatagpuan sa lalawigan ng Albay, dahil sa mga eksena nito sa mga pelikulang Langis at Tubig (1980), Kailangan Kita (2002), She’s Dating The Gangster (2014), at Firefly (2023).
Nangyari ang public consultation sa Mayon Volcano Heritage Aesthetic Lighting Project noong nakaraang linggo.
Ang pangunahing dahilan ng panukalang lagyan ng pailaw ang paligid ng Mayon Volcano ay upang lalong paunlarin ang turismo sa Albay, Bicol.
Mariin ang pagkontra ng mga Pilipino sa proyekto, lalupa’t PHP500 million ang diumano’y magagastos.
Pero nakasaad sa official Facebook page ng Legazpi City na PHP1.3 billion ang panukalang budget para rito.
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DIOCESE OF LEGAZPI STATEMENT
Naglabas ng mga AI-generated photo ang mga kinauukulan para magkaroon ng ideya ang mga tao sa magiging hitsura ng Bulkang Mayon kapag napailawan ito.
Pero hindi ito nakatulong dahil lalong lumakas ang panawagang kanselahin ang proyekto.
Kabilang sa mga mahigpit na tumutol ang mga obispo at mga pari ng Diocese of Legazpi na naglabas ng opisyal na pahayag.
Ayon sa kanila: “Mayon does not need to be lighted. She needs to be left alone.”
Iginiit din ng Diocese of Legazpi na isang insulto sa mga mamamayan ng Bicol ang panukala dahil mas marami ang malalaking problema na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin.
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Ito ang kabuuan ng pahayag ng Diocese of Legaspi: “We, the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of Legazpi, express our deep concern and growing unease over the renewed push to artificially illuminate Mayon Volcano, through the proposed installation of laser and spotlight systems around its sacred slopes.
“We understand that this project is being framed as a tourism milestone, meant to 'spark' economic activity and draw attention to the beauty of Mayon. But we respectfully and firmly believe this path is misguided.
“Mayon does not need to be lighted up. She needs to be left alone.
“Mayon is already one of the most magnificent expressions of God’s creation — not because of what we add to her, but because of what she already is.
"To impose artificial light upon her is not to honor her, but to disturb what has been naturally, silently, and majestically proclaimed for generations.
“We object to this proposal for the following reasons:
- It disrespects the sacredness of creation. In the spirit of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, we affirm that creation is not for domination or display. It is entrusted to our care. Mayon is not a backdrop for spectacle. She is a living symbol of our identity and our shared responsibility as stewards of the earth.
- It harms the environment and threatens wildlife. Artificial lighting disturbs delicate ecosystems. It disrupts nocturnal animals, alters natural rhythms, and endangers the unique balance of life on and around the volcano. These effects cannot be undone.
- It insults our people’s priorities. At a time when Albayanos suffer from prolonged power outages, ineffective flood control, unfinished infrastructure projects, inadequate roads, and unfulfilled promises of development, it is painful—and frankly offensive—to see massive public funds being diverted to something so impractical, unnecessary, and cosmetic. What urgently needs illumination are our provincial and barangay roads, to prevent night-time accidents and deter crime—not the slopes of a volcano that already glows on its own.
- It distracts from deeper, unaddressed problems. We are witnessing continued quarrying, mountain clearing, and irresponsible road construction in our province—often without consultation or consent. These are the real threats to Mayon and to our people. Lighting her up is not a solution; it is a distraction.
- It risks reducing us to ridicule. The world has never seen Mount Fuji, Everest, or the Alps lighted up—and for good reason. Natural wonders speak best for themselves. We risk becoming a cautionary tale of misplaced priorities and ecological ignorance.
"We urge our leaders to listen — not only to experts and environmentalists, but to the people who live in the shadow of this volcano. We call on them to reflect deeply on what true development means.
"Let Mayon remain as she is: mysterious, beautiful, and free. Let us light up instead our communities with justice, sustainability, and truth — not floodlights aimed at a volcano that never asked for them.”
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