Noy backs Palawan '7 Wonders' bid

MANILA, Philippines - The nationwide campaign to have the Puerto Princesa Underground River included in the new Seven Wonders of Nature got a major boost this week after President Aquino asked Filipinos to cast their votes by text to ensure that the Philippines’ famous natural attraction becomes part of the prestigious list.

Aquino said with the huge number of cell phone users in the country, text votes of Filipinos would surely make the site one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature.

“We need your text votes so the Palawan Underground River (would be included in the new Seven Wonders of Nature)… there will be more tourists in the country and the economy will grow with just your text votes,” Aquino said in Filipino.

The President got updates on the campaign from Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn during a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is the official nominee of the Philippines and finalist to the search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

It was declared one of the 28 finalists from over 441 participants. It has also been cited as an example of best practices for biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism.

The 8.2-kilometer underground river is competing against the Dead Sea, Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Maldives, the Grand Canyon, Jeju Island, Bay of Fundy, Black Forest, Iguazu Falls, Angel Falls, Yushan, Uluru, Galapagos, Milford Sound, Bu Tinah Island, The Great Barrier Reef, Halong Bay, Komodo Park, the Amazon, Vesuvius, Table Mountain, and Masurian Lake District.

It has been declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as a World Heritage Site and one of the most bio-diverse conservation areas in the world. It is the world’s longest subterranean river.

The river includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right at the water’s edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels live on a beach near the cave.

Text votes could be cast online at www.new7wonders.com/n7w <http://www.new7wonders.com/n7w> or by texting PPUR, PPUR7 or PPUR15 to 2861.