Last call to vote for Palawan Subterranean River
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
 The Department of Tourism (DOT) is calling on Filipinos all over the world to vote for Palawan's Subterranean River on the New7Wonders of Nature poll, as voting comes to and end on July 7, at 12 midnight (GMT). "We have to secure our place in the top 77 candidates. More than voting, let's promote our bet." said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism. The New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN) organizers announced that after the top 77 candidates have been determined, the New7Wonders Panel of Experts, led by Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO will then take over to select the 28 Finalists. The 28 Finalist Candidates will be announced on July 21, 2009. Bernard Weber, Founder and President of New7Wonders said, "New7Wonders is now bigger and more global than ever. By allowing 28 locations to compete as Official Finalists, we are recognizing the passionate, universal desire to participate in the campaign to chose the Official New7Wonders of Nature."
Voting for the nominees that will be eligible to be chose as an Official Finalist Candidate closes at midnight, July 7. Voters anywhere in the world can take part in the poll through www.new7wonders.com or via the international telephone voting online, or with a personalized voting certificate. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River has slipped to number 2 on the poll. The Philippine entry is vying for the top spot, which is currently occupied by the Amazon River, among the 54 nominees under the category of Forest/National Parks/Nature Reserves. There are currently 261 nominees from all over the globe, competing in 7 different categories, only 77 of which will remain after voting ends in July 7, 2209. The campaign is at its second of three stages. The contenders have been classified into 7 groups which are: Landscapes/Ice Formations, Islands, Mountains/Volcanoes, Caves/Rock Formations/Valleys, Forest/National Parks/Nature Reserves, Lakes/Rivers/Waterfalls, and Seascapes.
"More than a popularity contest, this campaign advocates the protection and preservation of our unique natural wealth," said Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions. Renowned as the world's longest underground river, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park also features a stunning limestone karst mountain landscape. Inside its large chambers are stalactites and stalagmites formations, while at the mouth of its cave thrives a bustling ecosystem which includes monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels. The New 7 Wonders of Nature is an ongoing campaign sponsored by the New 7 Wonders Foundation based in Switzerland. The same group initiated the New 7 Wonders of the World project in 2007.
Majority of the visitors on the N7WN website has likewise voted for Manila as the venue for the proclamation of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011.
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