PHL wins a seat in UNESCO's World Heritage Committee

The Philippines is now part of an elite team deciding the tourist sites which should be included in the World Heritage List after the Philippines won a seat in UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.

Garnering 116 votes, the Philippines bested 10 other countries to clinch a seat in the 12-member committee. The Philippines placed second next to Turkey in the elections held Tuesday during the 19th Session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention in Paris, France.

The Philippine delegation was headed by UNESCO Permanent Delegate and Ambassador to France Cristina Ortega.  

Aside from the Philippines and Turkey, the following countries were also elected as the members of the World Heritage Committee: Croatia, Finland, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, and Vietnam.  

The 12 new members are set to join the other nine current members of the World Heritage Committee in implementing the guidelines included in the World Heritage Convention.

The committee's tasks include selecting a piece of property for inclusion in the World Heritage List and the examination of reports on the state of conservation of sites already on the list. It also decides which sites should be included or deleted on the World Heritage in Danger List, determines the use of the World Heritage Fund, and allocates financial assistance upon requests from states parties.

In a statement, the the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines' election to as a committee member "was a clear indication of States Parties’ support for and belief in the country’s capabilities to perform the important mission of the Committee."

Sen. Loren Legarda, who previously headed the Philippine Delegation to the 37th UNESCO General Conference, said the Philippines' inclusion in the World Heritage Committee was a "great blessing" especially after natural disasters damaged some of the country's heritage sites.

"It is unfortunate that several of our heritage structures, some of which are included in our World Heritage Tentative List, have been greatly damaged due to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol. [In this light], we warmly welcome the news of our successful election to the World Heritage Committee. For a nation that is overflowing with rich culture and with natural and man-made wonders, this is certainly a great blessing," Legarda said in a statement.

The Philippines has five sites inscribed in the World Heritage List: the Baroque Churches of the Philippines located in Manila, Santa Maria, Paoay and Miag-ao; the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park; the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras; the Historic City of Vigan; and the Puerto Princesa Subterrenean River National Park. — VC, GMA News