Bontoc terraces nominated for Unesco award

Baguio City, Philippines — The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through its Cultural Properties Protection and Regulation Division (CPPRD) has nominated the Maligcong rice terraces in Barangay Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes.

The Maligcong rice terraces of Bontoc is one of the treasures of the Mountain Province. It is a site where local and foreign tourists can enjoy a mesmerizing sunrise view.

The scenic beauty of the Maligcong rice terraces is best seen at the top of Mount Kofafey, also in Maligcong.

The International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes aims to recognize and reward outstanding examples of action to safeguard and enhance the worldBs major cultural landscapes. It seeks to promote the importance of integrated conservation and sustainable management of cultural landscapes.

The prize was established in 1995 by Greece and named after the actress and activist Melina Mercouri, a strong advocate of integrated heritage conservation and former minister of culture of Greece.

The UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize is awarded every two years and the winner, who may be an individual, an institution or a non-governmental organization, receives an award of $30,000.