The Philippine Online Chronicles

Filipinos have until November 11, 2011 to vote for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) to be part of the New 7 Wonders. The Puerto Princesa underground river, one of the most important biodiversity conservation areas of the country, is one of the 28 finalists to the Search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Located 76 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City, within portions of Bgys. Cabayugan, Marufinas and Tagabinet, the famous tourist spot features a spectacular limestone or karst landscape that contains an 8.2 kilometers long underground river.

One distinguishing feature of the river is that it flows directly into the sea, and the lower half portion of the river is brackish or has more salinity than fresh water but not much more as sea water and subject to tidal influence. It is also reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River is managed by the city government of Puerto Princesa based on a program centered on environmental conservation and sustainable development. The destination was chosen as the country's entry after topping the first round of voting last July.

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also initiated voting campaigns for the Puerto Princesa Underground River

Everyone can vote for the Palawan underground river by texting "PPUR" to 2861. This is applicable for all mobile networks. Online votes are also accepted at www.new7wonders.com.

The search for the New 7 Wonders of the World is led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber. In his recent visit to Palawan, he described the underground river as a 'masterpiece of nature.'

Other finalists in the New 7 Wonders are: Amazon Rainforest, Angel Falls in Venezuela, Bay of Fundy in Canada, Black Forest in Germany, Bu Tinah Islan in United Arab Emirates, Cliffs of Mother in Ireland, Dead Sea in Israel, Jordan and Palestine, El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, Galapagos in Ecuador, Grand Canyon in the United States, Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Papua New Guinea, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil, Jeitta Grotto in Lebanon, Jeju Island in South Korea, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Komodo National Park in Indonesia, Maldives, Masurian Lake District in Poland, Matterhorn/Cervinho Mountain in Italy and Switzerland, Milford Sound in New Zealand, Mud Volcanoes in Azerbaijan, Sunderbans Forest in Bangladesh and India, Table Mountain in South Africa, Uluru Ayers Rock in Australia, Mt. Vesuvius in Italy and Yushan in Chinese Taipei.

The Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign started in 2007, immediately after the campaign to elect the man-made New Seven Wonders of the World, in which more than 100 million votes were cast. In 2008, the Tubbataha Reef, Mayon Volcano and Chocolate Hills were nominated to the New 7 Wonders of Nature.