DILG XI musters all LGOOs to heighten PPUR N7WN campaign among LGUs

DAVAO REGION, Aug 5 (PIA)-– The Regional Office XI of the Department of the Interior and Local Government will mobilize all its Local Government Operations Officers (LGOOs) to help heighten the various local government units’ awareness in the government’s campaign to vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature (PPUR N7WN) on August 16-18, 2011 at the Ritz Hotel, Davao City.
The N7WN is an international polling campaign which was started in 2007 by an independent Swiss-based government-controlled foundation in an effort to identify new seven new wonders of the world – a new marketing program that would provide huge economic, social and tourism-related benefits to the winning bidder country.
The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan is 8.2 kilometers long and was formed by nature more than 20 million years ago. Initially, the PPUR is one of the 400 locations chosen to become one of the N7WN. Being a world-renowned tourist destination, it has now reached the 7th place from among 28 other qualified candidates vying for the N7WN.
The PPUR advocacy activity will be included as one of the many topics to discuss on the upcoming activity entitled “Changing Gear towards Greater Productivity”.
DILG XI Regional Director Ananias M. Villacorta upon the directive given by the Honorable Secretary Jesse Robredo, said the DILG regional/provincial information officers designate and all LGOOs under the agency will be responsible in coordinating with the governors, city and municipal mayors, and the barangay chairmen in their areas of jurisdiction to prop up the campaign.
“We have to intensify and bring to the various LGU levels the PPUR N7WN campaign which will boost the country’s tourism industry and national pride. To achieve this, we need the help of all local chief executives. Through our field men, we have to encourage all LCEs to undertake any of the following activities so that the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) will be included as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature:
1. Conduct synchronized text voting during flag raising ceremony using the following voting mechanics
- Text PPUR and send to 2861(applicable to all networks)
2. Display of streamers, banners or tarpaulins in the major thoroughfares, public buildings and conspicuous places, and
3. Showing of the PPUR video (refer to the attached CD) during trainings and seminars and conduct of synchronized voting after each activity to ensure support.
At least 20 DILG RIOs and PIOs under the guidance of Assistant Secretary Bob Gutierrez and DILG Office of Public Affairs chief Feliciano Regis recently underwent a three-day seminar workshop and visit to the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan aimed to craft new strategies and approaches on how to improve further the campaign and rally the local chief executives and their constituents to support it.
Filipinos living in the Philippines and abroad are being encouraged to support and join the country’s bid to include PPUR as one of the N7WN by voting via text message “PPUR send to 2861” or thru the Internet by logging on towww.new7wonders.com.
The campaign is being spearheaded by the DILG with Secretary Robredo as Task Force chairman and is being supported by the Departments of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Education, Budget and Management, Transportation and Communication, Labor and Employment, Foreign Affairs, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Information Agency and six other private sector representatives led by Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn.
(MSMagtulis/RIO DILG-XI/PIA 11)