Senate issues call to save rice terraces

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate has adopted a resolution calling on the government to work to save the rice terraces in the Cordilleras from further degradation.

Introduced by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Senate Resolution 650 was adopted by the Senate Tuesday, emphasizing the need to rebuild the damaged rice terrace walls so as to preserve one of the most significant feats of the Filipino people.

The rice terraces were carved out by the Ifugaos some 2,000 years ago and its beauty and ingenuity landed it among the World Heritage List of the UNESCO in 1995 in recognition of the living cultural heritage of the indigenous people.

“Considered a wonder of the world, the rice terraces of the Philippines are distinct from other rice terraces in the world. These massive structures are a masterpiece of remarkable traditional engineering and irrigation systems dating back to 2,000 years ago,” the resolution stated.

While the Ifugaos have protected and preserved the rice terraces, the Senate noted that environmental and social interventions have made the natural wonder prone to degradation.

Specifically, the strong typhoons of recent years, including Pedring and Quiel, have damaged a total of 102,663 cubic meters of the area.

A total of 13 barangays and 2,000 farmers were also affected and the damage to agriculture was pegged at over P122.65 million.

According to the Senate, the rice terraces must be preserved for future generations as its traditional management has kept the balance and harmony in the interaction of man and nature.

“The government should encourage Filipinos, particularly the youth, to participate in efforts to save the rice terraces and to promote appreciation of the culture of the indigenous people,” according to the resolution.

The UNESCO has acknowledged the efforts being undertaken by the government to preserve the rice terraces.

“Threats and concerns identified when the property was put in the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2001 are now being conscientiously and systematically addressed through efforts extended by the Provincial Government and the concerned national agencies,” the UNESCO noted.

“This will ensure completion of the corrective measures that constitute removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger. Programs have been established to ensure landscape restoration and conservation through the documentation and continuous physical rehabilitation of deteriorated areas, including the revival of traditional practices that addresses cultural degeneration,” it added.