Bernard Weber’s visit boosts underground river’s hopes
Puerto Princesa Underground River
The surprise visit over the weekend of Bernard Weber, president and founder of the New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN), to Puerto Princesa City has buoyed the chances of the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) to win a spot in the online listing of the world’s natural wonders.
In fact, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn believes the underground river is a cinch to take top spot in the global contest, according to the city’s information office.
Weber, who spearheads the Switzerland-based N7WN, has been waging a campaign for years to promote environmental consciousness and inculcate a culture of ecological preservation worldwide. He visited the Puerto Princesa’s entry, the world’s longest navigable underground river,
Weber described the underground river as ‘‘masterpiece of nature,” the information office said.
Aquino’s vote
Hagedorn said the feverish campaign for votes through e-mail and text messages for the PPUR secured political significance when President Benigno Aquino III himself voted for the unique 8.2-kilometer underground river and urged all Filipino citizens to vote.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through Secretary Ramon Paje, has called on all citizens to vote for PPUR, which is competing against a number of natural sites in Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Europe.
Even the country’s top three telecommunications firms have united in an effort to boost PPUR’s chances of bagging the top spot by launching “Pera sa Kweba” text promo where a lucky winner will have a chance to win P25 million in the grand draw on Dec. 30, 2011.
PPUR is bidding to be in the top spot of the final batch of natural wonders to be enshrined among the list of sites that deserve to be preserved, protected and defended from despoliation
PPUR moved up to the top 7 circle of winners after beating the top 28 contestants several months ago.
Weber is said to have been impressed during his visit by the underground river’s magnificence, featuring spectacular limestone and karst formations, and the recently discovered prehistoric sea cow imbedded on limestone, several feet above sea level.
Weber was quoted as saying ‘‘it was a diamond experience for him to travel inside the underground river.”
Asked to describe the underground river, Weber said: ‘‘It’s a masterpiece of nature.” He said he would vote for the site, if he were allowed to vote.
Hagedorn said Weber’s visit to the underground river was a ‘‘very positive sign” of the outcome of the contest.
‘‘But as far as I am concerned, PPUR already won,” he added.
