Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo has secured ₱350 million for the rehabilitation and development of Mt. Isarog Natural Park, with the project seeking to boost eco-tourism while preserving one of the country’s key natural landscapes.
The funding was provided by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid met with Robredo in Naga City to discuss the project, which will focus on rehabilitating existing facilities built by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that have deteriorated after years of limited use.
Robredo said the project will balance conservation with tourism development, stressing that protecting Mt. Isarog’s ecosystem remains a central priority.
“Preservation of the ecology at Mt. Isarog is a component of the project,” Robredo said.
Mt. Isarog Natural Park, a protected area under Republic Act No. 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018, serves as an important watershed and habitat for diverse wildlife and natural resources. The mountain covers several areas in Camarines Sur, including Naga City, Pili, Ocampo, Tigaon, Goa, Tinambac, and Tiwi.
Robredo said the city government intends to prevent over-tourism by improving existing facilities and allowing visitors to experience the mountain without damaging its environment.
“There will be no construction of big structures or facilities,” she said, emphasizing that the project aims to develop tourism while preserving the natural environment.
To ensure ecological safeguards are observed, Robredo said the city has assigned 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 added that protecting Mt. Isarog is important beyond tourism because its role as a watershed and its natural resources support communities and biodiversity across the region.
