Fencing project in Albay has no permit, says DENR

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LEGAZPI CITY — The controversial fencing project of Sunwest Inc. in Barangay Tumpa, Camalig town situated within the 4-km permanent danger zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano has no Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC), according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office in Bicol.

In a letter by DENR officer-in-charge Geri Geronimo Sañez to Albay Gov. Noel Rosal, he said that no ECC has been issued by DENR for the fencing construction project.

“Please be informed that upon verification of our online system and official records, no ECC has been issued by this office to the said fence construction project,” said Sañez in his response to Rosal.

CONTROVERSIAL FENCING PROJECT Photo shows the fencing project of Sunwest Inc. within Mayon Volcano’s 4-km permanent danger zone in Barangay Tumpa in Camalig, Albay, which was found by Albay’s Task Force Quarry to be without permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALBAY PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR RAUL ROSAL

Rosal’s request for a copy of ECC was coursed through Regional Executive Director Francisco Milla, Jr., CESO III of DENR.

Camalig town Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr. has also affirmed to Rosal in a letter that the LGU of Camalig has not received any application for a permit from Sunwest, Inc.

Baldo said his office, in coordination with the municipal engineering office, has not found any permit application from the firm after thoroughly reviewing their records.

“Please be informed that as certified by our municipal engineer, Engr. Celino B. Serra, no fencing permit application has been filed, and no such permit has been issued by this office to Sunwest, Inc. for the mentioned property (lot number 7745),” Baldo’s letter to Rosal said.

Bishop Joel “Bong” Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi, in an interview with The Manila Times, said that the controversial fencing project of Sunwest Inc. within the 4-km PDZ of Mayon Volcano should be dismantled as it is a useless structure in a no man’s land.

“I really believe that it does not deserve to be there. It is a useless structure. It will only add to the true motive behind the construction of such a fence. It has no purpose there. It has no reason to be there. It is definitely an ulterior and selfish motive,” he told The Times.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) declared the 6k-m PDZ as the “no man’s land” area.

The firm’s lack of permit was discovered after Rosal’s Oct. 13, 2025 letter to the DENR, Camalig LGU, Sunwest Inc., and the Registry of Deeds to inquire regarding the controversial fencing project within the 4-km PDZ of Mayon Volcano.

The fencing project according to Rosal is almost two kilometers side by side with the road opening.

Rosal revealed that the provincial government will continue an investigation after a 10-day deadline for the replies from the four entities it has written.

The Registry of Deeds regional office, meanwhile, said the property in question where the fencing project is being implemented is not registered under Sunwest, nor is Lot 7745 registered with the agency.

Rosal was prompted to investigate the controversial fencing project after the Task Force Quarry found the fence to be way within the 6-km PDZ.

Workers of the fencing project admitted that the project is under the Sunwest construction firm.

“The fencing activity was discovered by chance when the provincial employees were just roaming around to check the quarry operation. But they uncovered worse than quarry operations as there is an ongoing fencing project within the 4-km or so of Mayon Volcano,” said Rosal.

Rosal said that the fencing project might have been the cause why lahar flows, specifically in Masarawag Guinobatan, are rechanneling to residential areas.

The Times tried to reach Sunwest for comment but failed to get any reply.