Travel the Phillipines Paradise with Mayon Volcano

The government is taking a closer look at the country’s most stunning volcano to drum up tourism. Five of the most famous tourist spots in the country today attracting tourists not only locally but also all over the world is Mayon Volcano. It is thought about five of the 22 active volcanoes in the country. Local & foreign tourists thrill at the sight of Mayon’s perfect cone, whether seen up close or from a distance.

When Mayon erupted in June 2001, business boomed in the area surrounding Mayon Volcano drawing sightseers & boosting tourism. Hundreds of foreign & local tourists trooped near the volcano to catch a glimpse of its red & orange emissions. Most of the hotels & beach resorts of Albay province were fully booked.

Historically when Mayon exploded, tourists never failed to flock to Legazpi City to experience this rare natural occurrence. Night visitors were treated to a grand fireworks-like spectacle.

The DOT records further indicated that of the three provinces composing the Bicol Region, Albay province topped in the number of tourist arrivals, even higher than that of Sorsogon where the famous Butanding is located.

Department of Tourism (DOT) records showed that total foreign & local tourist arrivals in the Bicol Region increased every year during the period 2002-2004. In 2002, it was recorded that foreign tourist arrivals reached 12,209 while local tourist arrivals totaled 377,509. The figures increased in 2003 when foreign tourist arrivals reached 20,372 & local tourists also rose to 388,589, & still continued to rise in 2004 when foreign tourists arriving in the region totaled 25,143 while domestic tourist arrivals reached 449,295.

Undeniably, Mayon’s box office drama is dampened by the fact that it could cause destruction of lives & property. That is why local & national officials do everything to make sure that nearby residents are given ample forewarning before an eruption.

Nowadays, Mayon is calm & as stunning as ever because of the natural formation of rocks & soil that is the result of its past tantrums. Five time more, the government is taking a closer look at the idea of mounting a major conservation hard work to increase its appeal to tourists & to make local residents more aware of its value as a national resource.

As early the term of President Corazon Aquino, the government has sought to preserve the ecological, aesthetic, recreational, educational & tourism values of Mayon Volcano. Then on November 21, 2000, Proclamation No. 413 was issued mandating the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) to protect, manage, create & conserve Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MVNP).

The MVNP is a 5,458.65-hectare area surrounding Mayon Volcano. It encompasses two municipalities of Albay, namely, Ligao, Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Legaspi City, Sto. Domingo, Malilipot, & Tabaco.

DENR geologists portray the physical features of the natural park as having scattered fertile plains, consisting of rough & narrow ridges, & deep ravines which serve as passageways of lava flows during heavy rains.

The area is also rich in important flora & fauna. The flora includes narra, dapdap, anonang, anabiong, agoho, balagubang, langaton, tree ferns, tagunguirit, pitcher plants, orchids, abaca, rattan, & lakad-bulan.

The area also boasts of its facilities & amenities including a bunkhouse, access roads going to reforestation projects, & a reforestation building, nature trails, & the panoramic view of the active Mayon Volcano itself. There's also scientific facilities maintained by the Philippine Commission on Volcanology near the area to monitor the activities of the volcano.