LGUs' role in Puerto Princesa campaign cited

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday gave credit to local government officials for their support in advancing the Puerto Princesa Underground River to the provisional list of the New Seven Wonders of Nature list.

Robredo, chair of the Interagency Task Force for the underground river campaign created under Presidential Proclamation 182, said 80 percent of local chief executives nationwide urged their constituents to vote for the underground river online or through text.

“I thank all the local chief executives nationwide who answered our call to support the PPUR to be one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. It is Filipino unity and patriotism at its best. It is not just the pride and joy of the people of Palawan but the entire country as well,” Robredo said.

Aside from the prestige it will bring to the Philippines, he said the country will also benefit in terms of tourism.

Last Wednesday, Robredo issued a memorandum circular to all local chief executives nationwide to urge their constituents to vote for the underground river by texting PPUR and sending it to 2861 before the voting ended last Friday.

Robredo expressed confidence that the underground river will stay in the list at the final pronouncement to be made by the organizers early next year.

Aside from the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the Switzerland-based New7Wonders Foundation announced that the other destinations included in the provisional list are Amazon rainforest, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo Island and South Africa’s Table Mountain.