Mt. Hamiguitan, Apo seek spot in Unesco Heritage Site list

THE American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in Davao City announced Tuesday that two mountains situated in Davao Region are vying for a spot in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage sites list.

Sonny Dizon, president of the ACC-Davao, speaking in Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City, said these mountains are Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental, and the country's highest peak, Mt. Apo, in Davao del Sur.

Dizon said there are 29 natural wonders in the country vying to be included in the Unesco World heritage sites.

He said if the Unesco would declare these mountains as world heritage sites, initiatives on preservation and conservation will follow.

Dizon, however, said preservation and conservation initiatives must commence, with or without the declaration.

"It has to be done as soon as possible," he said.

Meanwhile, Dizon labeled Mt. Apo as the "giver of life," considering the fact it gives fertility to the soil.

"It (Mt. Apo) is like a sponge, without it rains will be out of control," he said, adding that the mountain also helps prevent flashfloods in the lowlands.

He said that the objective of Unesco in identifying the next world heritage site is to preserve the ancient ruins and natural wonders of nature.

The declaration of new Unesco World Heritage Sites is done once every three years. Some of the criteria include biodiversity, social effects, and threatened status of the sites.

"It is not the public that will put us there. There is a panel of judges who would decide," he said.

He said some local executives in Davao Region sent last week a letter of expression of support to the Unesco Philippines central office in Manila.

Dizon said he has not yet received the schedule as to when will be the declaration, adding that its central office in the country would like to keep the selection process a secret.