Puerto Princesa Officially one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature

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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. 

Batad Rice Terraces: Saving a Living Heritage

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Philippine Daily Inquirer 

10:21 pm | Thursday, March 15th, 2012

BAGUIO CITY—Civic groups, tourists and government workers continue to pitch in as Ifugao farmers begin preparing for the restoration of the Batad rice terraces in Ifugao, Gov. Eugene Balitang said here on Wednesday.

The Batad terraces in the tourist town of Banaue belong to the cluster of rice terraces declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as World Heritage Site in 1995. Unusually heavy rains over the years had eroded sections of the terraces in Batad and in other parts of Ifugao.

On Monday, the Banaue government began clearing and stockpiling rocks for stonewalls. It also started field demonstration exercises every Thursday for people who volunteer to rebuild the terraces, reports from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) rice program office showed.

The reports said the Department of Budget Management has set aside P20 million as initial repair funds for the terraces.

Balitang said the Ifugao government will also tap funds from the Unesco National Commission of the Philippines (Unacom) to repair the terraces.

He said tourists and civic groups have helped in the work as a result of a bachang (appeal for help) that was called by communities there.

The Catholic organization Couples for Christ sent a delegation last week, while the Philippine Army promised to send soldiers to help, reports from Balitang’s office said.

The Ifugao government has prepared new maps and geographical data to guide farmers and engineers in their work on the terraces.

The terraces are unique as they were the result of ancient engineering practices that prevent the mountain from eroding.

Ifugao is a rainforest so the paddies act as soil and runoff water trap, while layers of forest cover in the mountains serve as watersheds, the Ifugao Cultural Heritage Office said.

On March 10, Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on cultural communities, inspected the damaged terraces.

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr., chair of the House committee on cultural communities, has sponsored a bill that provides a stable source of funds for restoring and maintaining the rice terraces. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon