Amazon edges out RP river in Wonders

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) said yesterday the world-renowned Puerto Princesa Subterranean River slipped to second place in the New7Wonders of Nature (N7WN) poll and appealed to Filipinos for more votes to put it back on top.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River used to occupy the number one spot but was edged out by the Amazon River of South America.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano urged Filipinos to support the country’s bid for the top rank.

The Amazon River is now leading 54 other nominees under the category of Forests/National Parks/Nature Reserves. 

According to Durano, there are 261 nominees worldwide, competing in seven different categories.

Of the 261, only 77 will remain after the second stage voting ends on July 7.

After the top 77 candidates have been determined, the New7Wonders Panel of Experts, led by Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO, will take over to select the 21 finalists, which will be announced on July 11, 2009.

Voting will continue throughout 2010 and into 2011. The final declaration of the seven new wonders of nature will be in 2011.

The contenders have been classified into seven groups: Landscapes/Ice Formations, Islands, Mountains/Volcanoes, Caves/Rock Formations/Valleys, Forests/National Parks/Nature Reserves, Lakes/Rivers/Waterfalls, and Seascapes.

Voters anywhere in the world can take part in the poll through the Internet or via the international telephone voting line, or with a personalized voting certificate.

But Durano insisted that the ongoing search is more than just voting and winning but taking part in endorsing the Palawan River as a world-class national treasure.         

“It’s time we go beyond voting. Let’s all take an active part in promoting Puerto Princesa’s Subterranean River to the whole world,” Durano pointed out.

Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr. said more than a popularity contest, the ongoing campaign advocates the protection and preservation of our unique natural wealth like the country’s underground river.

Known worldwide as the world’s longest underground river, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone karst mountain landscape. Inside its large chambers are stalactite and stalagmite formations, while at the mouth of its cave thrives a bustling ecosystem which includes monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels. It also has some of the most important forests in Asia.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River was inscribed by UNESCO as a world heritage site on Dec. 4, 1999.