PPUR Vote Campaign intensified

By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
August 2, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region 8 together with other concerned government agencies intensifies the promotion campaign for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as one of the world’s seven wonders of nature.

President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Presidential Proclamation No. 182 on June 3, 2011, declaring a national and international promotion campaign for the PPUR as one of the new seven wonders of nature.

The said proclamation designates the Secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as Chairperson,  the Secretary of Tourism as Vice Chairperson, as well as the DENR and other line agencies and private sector as members of the Campaign Task Force to vigorously promote and push for the proclamation of the PPUR among the new seven wonders of nature.

As member agency, DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje has directed all the employees and clientele in the regional and field offices of the DENR throughout the country to vote for PPUR through text or email.

DENR 8 Regional Executive Director Rogelio T. Trinidad exhorts all internet users and mobile phone subscribers in region 8 and even abroad to vote by texting PPUR15 and send to 2861 for all globe, smart and sun cellular subscribers.  Voting by phone can be made every day until November 10 this year.  Internet users can log on to www.new7wonders.com to vote by email.

“As a matter of national pride and patriotism we should all support the campaign to ensure that PPUR is proclaimed as one of the new seven wonders of nature” RED Trinidad stressed.

The 8.2 kilometer long PPUR formed 30 million years ago, is considered the longest underground river in the world, with unique and outstanding scientific, biological and geological features that merited its being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1999 and being declared as  National Geological Monument in December 2003.

From an initial list of over 400 locations around the world, the PPUR is the lone finalist from the Philippines and now counts among the top 14 of the 28 official finalist candidates, selected by a panel of international experts from a list of 77 contenders via the first round of global voting from 2007 to 2010.

Inclusion of the PPUR in the list of 28 official finalist candidates has made PPUR world-renowned and is starting to attract international interest that will benefit the Philippine tourism industry as a whole with its synergistic effects.