Puerto Princesa Officially one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature

Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) has been basically inaugurated as one of the New7Wonders of Nature and  was welcomed across the entire spectrum of the media in the Philippines. N7WN president Dr. Bernard Weber made the formal announcement during a press briefing at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City last Saturday. Weber thanked Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn for marshalling the active participation of Filipinos in ensuring the victory of PPUR in the tightly-contested race among unique places in all regions of the world.

Weber has predicted to convert over a commemorative plaque to the Philippine government which will be set up at a particular website in the metro. Another plaque will be set up in Palawan, near the PPUR access.

“Confirmation that the Puerto Princesa Underground River is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is welcome news indeed. Throughout the competition, Filipinos from all walks of life have given time, energy, and resources to this campaign,” said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

Puerto Princesa Bishop Pedro Arigo, who said the PPUR’s status stresses the need to conserve and protect the environment. ‘We don’t need mining because tourism alone, using the pristine beauty of nature of Palawan creates livelihood for the people without destroying the environment,’ Arigo said at the sidelines of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ ongoing plenary assembly in Manila.”

This news might boost Philippine tourism and comes just weeks after the Department of Tourism unveiled its new tourism slogan ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines,’ to attract more foreign travelers.”

The PPUR was declared as one of the    New Seven Wonders of Nature  on November 11, 2011. The other six winners were Halong Bay in Vietnam; the Amazon of South America; Iguazu Falls between Argentina and Brazil; Jeju Island in South Korea; Komodo in Indonesia; and Table Mountain in South Africa.