Mayon Rest House took a decade before restoration

20114_0209_mayonresthouse
White elephant it is, one abandoned structure in Mayon view deck and rest house area.

It is really a big deal that Albay’s view deck zone and rest house was finally restored.

Yet, there is the unanswered question on how come it was left being a white elephant for over a decade which concerned local government officials and, or, agencies did nothing.

For over ten years the Mayon Rest House area, where the Mayon Skyline Hotel occupies, had been abandoned.

The hotel was previously built out of funds coming from the national government and legislators. Yet the area, including the hotel, became the least of priority for restoration by previous governors from Al Francis Bichara to Fernando Gonzalez.

Even the current governor Joey Salceda, now on his last (third) term having full knowledge the facilities were in deplorable condition, took time before the restoration was undertaken.

Proactive action to preserve the properties was absent. There was never haste. Indeed, it was a very slow reaction that took more than ten years to mobilize.

The area is within the city of Tabaco, located about 8,500 feet above sea level.

The address is home to the seismological instruments used by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Another prominent structure is a planetarium which was built through the Priority Development Assistance Fund.

As an important tourist zone, it is also the jump-off point or staging area of mountaineers who climb the peak of Mt. Mayon.

But perhaps, it was worth the wait.

*26

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *