GMA to help preserve Ifugao

BAGUIO CITY — Even with Congress eyeing a possible P100 million budget to preserve the age-old Ifugao Rice Terraces, President Arroyo will fly to Ifugao on Jan. 7 for an ocular inspection of the world’s eighth wonder to look for means to help its preservation.

This came after reports that the United Nation Education, Scientific and Cultural Office (UNESCO) would strip the rice terraces of it’s status as a World Heritage site. Purificacion Molintas, Cordillera director of the Department of Tourism, said that the Jan. 7 visit of the President to Ifugao is important as she (Mrs. Arroyo) will see first hand what measures are needed to preserve the terraces.

"This is aside from the P100 million sought by (Ifugao) Congressman (Solomon) Chungalao for the establishment of an authority to preserve the rice terraces," Molintas said.

Chungalao filed House Bill 4002 for the creation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces Authority to replace the inutile Ifugao Terraces Task Force. Chungalao said that with the changed status, more teeth will be given to the preservation of the numerous rice terraces in his province. — Artemio Dumlao