RP wonders dropping out of race

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ nominations to the new seven wonders of the world online contest are continually dropping from the top 20 list, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported yesterday.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said that as of the latest count, the Tubbataha reef ranks eighth, the Chocolate Hills ninth, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park 10th and Mayon Volcano at 18th place.

“We have the most number of destinations in the top 20 list, which is dominated by Asian and South American countries. But we are continually dropping,” Durano pointed out.

Durano then renewed the DOT’s call to the general public to continue voting for the country’s nominees.

“The DOT encourages everyone to participate in the survey,” Durano said as he expressed appreciation over efforts of communities and groups in promoting the nominated destinations to both domestic and foreign audience.

Durano said the rankings are updated twice daily and may be viewed at http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/liveranking. Voters have until Dec. 31 to log in their nominations at www.new7wonders.com and the top 21 finalists at the end of the first round will be announced in January 2009.

A second year-long competition will then be held to determine the top seven contenders to be officially declared the new “Seven Wonders of Nature” by the year 2010.

Durano, earlier, expressed hope that the search would not only promote the country’s destinations to foreign tourists but also encourage every Filipino in advocating the conservation of our ecological treasures.

“By landing in the list of the Seven Wonders of Nature, tourism activities near these sites will rise, thus benefiting the livelihood of Filipinos living nearby,” the tourism chief added.

Since its inception on July 7, 2007, the Seven Wonders of Nature list has included the Tubbataha Reef and Chocolate Hills as top candidates in the 2nd and 3rd place positions.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park has beaten India’s River Ganges in reaching for 5th place, while the Mayon Volcano bested Japan’s Mount Fuji and was ranked 9th in the overall tally.

The search for the Seven Wonders of Nature was organized by the non-profit Seven Wonders Foundation, an association that aims to conserve the world’s natural and man-made heritage through advocacy and documentation.