TABACO CITY — Tabaco City Mayor Rey Bragais has denied allegations that he abruptly imposed an entrance fee at the popular Mayon Skyline tourist spot, following a wave of public criticism.
The backlash came after the official Mount Mayon Natural Park Facebook page posted a public notice about the collection of entrance fees at the Mayon Skyline starting on September 2, 2025.
According to the notice, the entrance fee collection is in line with PAMB Resolution No. 04, Series of 2021, for the use of facilities and resources within the Mt. Mayon Natural Park.
The announcement prompted a strong response from Tabaqueños, who voiced their dissent against Mayor Bragais, forcing him to address the allegations and respond to the growing concerns of his constituents.
Bragais stated that he had no involvement in the sudden imposition of the entrance fee, emphasizing that it was the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that issued the resolution in 2021. He further clarified that this resolution applied not only to the Mayon Rest House but also to all protected areas in Albay, each with its own corresponding fees.
“When I assumed office in July, announcements were suddenly posted on tarpaulins near the Mayon Rest House. The public noticed, including some vloggers who shared the posts on Facebook. I was criticized, and the issue was unfairly attributed to me,” Bragais explained.
He went on to say that he immediately contacted the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO), where he learned from Reynold Martirez, a regular PAMB member, that the board had announced the implementation of Resolution No. 04, Series of 2021, starting on September 2.
Mayor Bragais questioned the timing of the implementation, asking why it coincided with his recent assumption of office. He felt that authorities should have informed him ahead of time, rather than simply posting announcements at the Mayon Rest House.
Bragais also mentioned that a meeting regarding the matter was scheduled for August 7, but he was unable to attend because he was in Manila for the City Mayors League convention. Before leaving, he instructed his City Administrator, and other concerned personnel to attend the meeting on his behalf.
During their meeting on August 6, a consensus was reached on the city’s position regarding the protected area. Bragais emphasized that Tabaco City should not be left out of the agreement between the DENR and the provincial government.
Another meeting is set for August 19, which Mayor Bragais plans to attend. He clarified that the Mayon Skyline Hotel, located below the rest house, falls under the provincial government’s jurisdiction, while the planetarium and canteen above are managed by the city. However, he noted that there was a direct agreement between the DENR and the provincial government, to which Tabaco City was not a part.
“Here in Tabaco City, I was unaware of the development. The resolution was created in 2021, so I was surprised that after four years, it’s only now being implemented. Let’s see if the implementation will indeed go through in September,” Bragais said.| Story by Hannah Franchezka Boragay
