LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Governor Noel Rosal has ordered an investigation into the construction of a nearly two-kilometer fence discovered inside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mayon Volcano, after workers on-site identified Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation as the company behind the project.
Rosal said the fencing activity was discovered by chance when provincial personnel, led by Provincial Administrator Raul Rosal, were inspecting the area.
“So, dapat. Kasi ‘yun, hindi talaga ‘yung sinadya. Sa pag-ikot-ikot ng mga tao natin, nakita ‘yun. Nabigla nga nung mga unang ikot, hindi nakita ‘yun. Almost 2 kilometers na,” the governor said.
He explained that the priority now is to verify the claim that Sunwest Construction is behind the construction and to check if the project has the necessary permits.
“So ang issue ngayon is, number one, we have to write muna, kasi nga ‘yung nagpakilala na Sunwest sila. So ito confirm natin. Kasi under the law, hindi ka puwedeng magpa-fence without fencing permit. So ngayon ‘yan, susulatan namin siya nitong mga requirements — ECC, fencing permit, title. Because ang ownership, title talaga. Hindi puwedeng tax declaration. So hihingin namin ito, itong mga requirements nito,” Rosal said.
He added that letters will be sent to concerned agencies to determine whether any permits or land titles were issued for the fenced property.
“Then, just to be very sure, susulatan din namin ng DENR. Nag-issue ba kayo dito? Kasi this is a no-man’s land. So, ito na, naka-draft na,” Rosal said. “Number two, susulatan din namin ‘yung Registry of Deeds. Kasi bakit hindi magsubmit ‘yan? May title ba ito? Nag-issue ba kayo dito, na ito no-man’s land ‘to? Tapos, ‘yung Camalig at ito, or Daraga ha, kalahati, we have to write also the building official. Bakit? Nag-issue ba kayo dito ng fencing permit? So ‘yan. Tapos, doon natin malalaman.”
The governor confirmed that the fenced property lies within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mayon Volcano.
He said no conclusion has been made yet regarding the purpose of the fencing. “So, not nothing yet doon sa ano masasabi about the fencing. Wala kasi,” Rosal said. “Pero siyempre, bakit finence? Anong purpose doon? Madaming haka-haka na it’s about the lighting. Pero hindi pa naman na-release ‘yung budget doon. Hindi ako nag-comment diyan kasi mahirap ‘yan.”
Rosal said the investigation will continue as the provincial government seeks to verify the legality of the construction and the entity responsible for it.
