Butuan readies Mt. Mayapay View Deck for sustainable, regulated tourism

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Butuan City is moving to balance tourism development and environmental protection as it prepares the popular Mayapay View Site / Mt. MayapayView Deck for broader public access and sustainable eco-tourism.

The Butuan City Public Information Office (PIO) reported that a comprehensive evaluation is underway to upgrade safety protocols, establish public order, and enforce strict land-use regulations at the vantage point, which overlooks the city and the landmark Mount Mayapay.

A newly formed Technical Working Group (TWG)—spearheaded by the City Tourism, Culture and Arts Department (CTCAD) alongside City Council Tourism Committee chair Victor Plaza—recently conducted a multi-agency site inspection in Barangay Nongnong.

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Inspectors assessed the area’s existing amenities, hazard risks, and ongoing infrastructure work, particularly the concreting of the access road leading up to the ridge.

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CTCAD head Kevin Hinaloc underscored the necessity of a coherent master plan before massive tourist arrivals resume.

“A clear and efficient development blueprint is critical to guarantee that the destination is structurally sound, ecologically secure, and genuinely safe for visitors,” Hinaloc said in the report.

While local residents and day-trippers are still allowed to visit the ridge for leisure and sightseeing, city authorities have imposed an immediate moratorium on the construction of permanent structures.

Officials cautioned that portions of the upland site fall within designated Ancestral Domain boundaries and military reservations, requiring rigorous zoning clearances, environmental permits, and inter-agency endorsements before any permanent commercial or hospitality facilities can be approved.

The TWG is compiling its field findings and recommendations to draft an actionable framework that will guide long-term tourism infrastructure, solid waste management, and visitor carrying capacity for the scenic destination.