Robredo lauds LGUs' support in PPUR’s bid as one of New 7 Wonders of Nature

MANILA, Nov. 15 (PIA) -- Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo lauded and expressed thanks to the country’s governors, mayors and barangay chairmen for their all-out support in making the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
The DILG Secretary, who is chairman of the Inter-agency Task Force for the PPUR campaign created under Presidential Proclamation 182, said in a statement that more than 80 percent compliance of local chief executives nationwide to rally their constituents to vote – via text message PPUR 2861 or via the Internet – contributed substantially in the effort.
“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,” he said.
“Aside from the global prestige it will bring to the Philippines, the country also stands to benefit from PPUR in terms of tourism and related revenues,” he added.
In a last-ditch effort last Wednesday, the DILG issued a memo circular to all local chief executives nationwide to conduct and attend their flag retreat on Friday (dubbed as 11-11-11) and rally their constituents to vote via their cellular phones by texting PPUR send to 2861.
Robredo also directed all chiefs of bureaus and offices under the DILG such as the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Local Government Academy, National Police Commission, the DILG regional offices, among others, to conduct same flag retreat activity last Friday.
The DILG directive was issued few hours after Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Robredo held a press conference on Wednesday at the DENR offices in Quezon City to draw and drum up the Filipino’s support to the PPUR’s bid.
Robredo said he is very much delighted to learn that PPUR has made it to the top 7 New 7 Wonders Nature finalists, expressing confidence that it will stay despite the organizers’ statement that the list was provisional and may change by the time a final announcement is made early next year.
Aside from PPUR, the Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation announced the list of provisional winners as the 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. Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, the Dead Sea, and the US Grand Canyon, which made it to the top 10 finalists, failed to make the cut. (DILG/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)