BUTUAN CITY — The city government’s push to develop the Mayapay View Site into a formal tourism destination is unfolding alongside a separate infrastructure issue that has drawn public attention: the newly completed concrete access road leading to the view deck was partially torn up after defects were discovered, and the Technical Working Group’s joint inspection is proceeding against that backdrop. The TWG, created by the City Tourism, Culture and Arts Department, assessed the site’s condition and the facilities still needed before it can be safely opened to the public, with its findings set to guide the next steps in the area’s long-term development.
A Road That Failed Quality Checks
The road leading to the Mt. Mayapay View Deck in Barangay Nong-nong was completed by the contractor on April 26, 2026, but the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Quality Assurance Unit later found “criss-cross cracks” on the completed Portland Cement Concrete Pavement, causing the section to fail the agency’s required quality standards. Heavy equipment was photographed breaking portions of the newly finished pavement, prompting residents to question why a recently completed road was already undergoing repairs. The DPWH directed the contractor to remove and replace the defective sections at no additional cost to the government, and final payment for the project will be processed only after the repair work is completed and approved. The contractor initially attributed the cracks to the high heat index experienced in Butuan City.
The TWG’s Inspection and the Site’s Constraints
The joint inspection brought together multiple city offices, including the City Environment and Natural Resources Department, City Health Department, City Engineering Department, City Planning and Development Department, and City Employment Services Department, alongside the Philippine National Police and the barangay chairperson of Nong-nong. The team examined the status of the access road and other facilities, alongside the site’s layered legal classifications: a portion falls within an ancestral domain, other parts are classified as a military reservation, and the city’s zoning ordinance places Mount Mayapay within a forest protection zone. Those classifications prohibit the construction of permanent structures without the necessary permits, which is why the city has framed the current phase as a preparation stage rather than a development launch.
What Visitors Can Expect in the Meantime
The public is still allowed to visit the Mayapay View Site for recreation and family outings, but permanent structures cannot be built while permits are being processed. The TWG is expected to consolidate the inspection’s observations and recommendations into a clear and efficient plan that will guide future development while ensuring the site remains safe for visitors. The road repairs and the tourism planning are proceeding on separate tracks, but they converge on the same destination: a view deck that residents and tourists can reach safely, on infrastructure that meets the standards the government itself requires.
