THE Diocese of Legazpi yesterday strongly opposed the proposal to light up the Mayon Volcano in Albay, saying it is best to leave the volcano renowned for its “perfect cone” alone.
In a statement, the Diocese of Legazpi said: “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. Its natural beauty is enough to promote tourism.
“Let Mayon remain as she is: mysterious, beautiful, and free. Mayon does not need to be lit up. She needs to be left alone,” it stressed.
The Diocese said it is against the plans as it disrespects the sacredness of creation, adding Mayon Volcano shouldn’t be considered as a mere “backdrop for spectacle.”
The Legazpi clergy said the proposal will also harm the environment and threaten wildlife since the artificial lighting will disturb the delicate ecosystems by disrupting nocturnal animals, alter natural rhythms, and endanger the unique balance of life on and around the volcano.
It also said the project is an insult to people’s priorities as it comes at a time when Albayanos suffer from prolonged power outages, ineffective flood control, unfinished infrastructure projects, inadequate roads, and unfulfilled promises for their development.
The Diocese said the program will also be a distraction from deeper, unaddressed problems such as continued quarrying, mountain clearing, and irresponsible road construction in the province.
Lastly, the Legazpi diocese said the project risks reducing the Philippines to ridicule as the world has never seen Mt. Fuji, Mt. Everest, or the Alps lit up.
“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,” said the Diocese.
As early as 2019, there have been proposals to place spotlights around Mayon Volcano to accentuate its magnificent slopes.
More recently, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) revived the plans to light up the Mayon Volcano.
