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According to Trixie Cruz-Angeles, counsel of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, “the Banaue rice terraces stands to lose its listing as a World Heritage Site if the construction of the parking building would threaten its structural integrity,” reports Evelyn Macairan on The Philippine Star.
READ: NCCA wants to stop construction of 7-storey parking building in Banaue
Unfortunately, the agency “won’t be issuing a cease and desist order until it has a “’personal knowledge or credible report,’” continues the report.
And while the UNESCO will not intervene because “it respects the sovereignty of nations,” the report adds that it can “classify the rice terraces as an endangered site.”
Once the Banaue Rice Terraces is classified as so, UNESCO is free to impose restrictions that the Philippines will have to comply with.
“Angeles said that if they find out during inspection that the parking facility would endanger the rice terraces and local officials fail to address this concern, the terraces could be removed from the list,” continues the report.
If local officials won’t comply with the NCCA’s recommendations, then the government agency will ask the UNESCO to include the rice terraces in the endangered list.
The Banaue rice terraces is a National Cultural treasure of the Philippines. Many Filipinos consider it the 8th Natural Wonder of the World.
Photo: Wiki Commons
