Heritage in danger

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has declared the Philippine campaign to protect the Rice Terraces as successful when it formally removed the site from the list of “World Heritage in Danger” during the 36th Session of the World Heritage Committee. The committee, composed of 21 state parties to the World Heritage Convention, decided that the Philippines had successfully met the Desired State of Conservation.

According to the international body, the Philippines achieved the restoration of at least 50 percent of the collapsed terraces, and the required documentation and rehabilitation of major irrigation systems in the site had been accomplished. The committee also noted that policies and laws preserving the site, such as the development of community-based land use and zoning plans, as well as measure ensuring the site’s proper management and its protection from natural disasters; are now in place and had been implemented.

Philippine permanent delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Cristina Ortega, calls the decision a historic moment for the Philippines, considering the international community’s recognition of our commitment and effort in reinstating the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras in the World Heritage List a great honor and accomplishment.

As the country’s most recognizable World Heritage site, the Rice Terraces truly deserve to be restored and protected from further degradation and damage and it is comforting to know that our government had the wherewithal to do what had to be done. Hopefully all the other endangered heritage sites in this country, whether large or small, are also given the attention they deserve. Here in Negros we have numerous bonafide heritage sites that will be needing attention sooner or later if they are to survive the ravages of time. Our heritage sites here in Negros may not yet be in the radar of the UNESCO as potential world heritage sites but if we do not work right now to ensure that the succeeding generations enjoy these treasures, they will never have a chance of being recognized as such. It is up to the private sector and the government to join hands in preventing our local heritage sites from becoming endangered as well.*