NAGA CITY, Philippines — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has approved P350 million for a project aimed at rehabilitating existing facilities and promoting sustainable tourism at the Mt. Isarog Natural Park.

TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid personally visited Naga City to formally inform Mayor Leni Robredo that the TIEZA Board has already approved the funding for the project.

Robredo said the project will rehabilitate or repair structures originally built by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), many of which have already deteriorated due to years of neglect and underutilization.

She said the project is being pursued not only to promote Mt. Isarog as a tourism destination but, more importantly, to help preserve its ecology.

“Preservation of the ecology at Mt. Isarog is a component of the project,” Robredo said.

The mayor explained that several developments have already been established in the Mt. Isarog area, some reportedly without the knowledge of the city government. The portion within Naga City covers almost half of the Mt. Isarog Natural Park.

To help ensure that development will not compromise the area’s ecological balance, Robredo said the city has been deploying personnel from the City Planning and Development Office, City Engineer’s Office, and City Environment and Natural Resources Office to monitor activities in the area.

She stressed that Mt. Isarog serves as the city’s watershed and is home to wildlife and other natural resources that need to be protected.

Robredo said the city government does not want over-tourism in Mt. Isarog. Instead, the project will focus on enhancing existing facilities and providing more opportunities for adventure activities without damaging the environment.

“There will be no construction of big structures or facilities,” she said, emphasizing that the goal is to promote tourism while protecting the natural environment.

Lapid, for his part, assured Robredo that TIEZA would ensure that the project’s details and specifications would be implemented in accordance with the plans and vision of the city government as the project’s end user.

Lapid said he intends to fast-track the implementation of the Mt. Isarog project, prompting him to meet with Robredo to discuss its details.

His visit to Naga was also part of an inspection of other TIEZA-supported projects in the region, including the eco-tourism project in Pasacao, Camarines Sur.

In Naga, Lapid conducted an ocular inspection of the Peñafrancia Museum, which he said is nearing completion.

For Robredo, the Mt. Isarog project presents an opportunity to strike a balance between tourism development and environmental protection, ensuring that the mountain’s natural resources remain protected while allowing residents and visitors to appreciate its ecological and tourism value. I via Jason B. Neola, CMO-Public Information Division head