|
Sunday, April 06, 2003
Lawmakers join bid to preserve Ifugao terraces
By Harley Palangchao & Mike Guimbatan Jr.
THE battle to save the world-famous Ifugao Rice Terraces is now gaining ground after members of the Northern Alliance of Congressmen (NAC) vowed to help Ifugao officials and villagers bring back the natural grandeur of the eighth world wonder.
The support of the NAC came very timely, after Ifugao Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr., claimed that the concerned government agencies supposed to help revive the terraces seemed not worried about the fast deterioration of the terraces, owing to the lack of funding assistance.
Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao, however, reported that the 31-member NAC, a group of congressmen from the Cordilleras, Regions 1 and 2, vowed to help him revive the proposed bill creating the Ifugao Rice Terraces Authority (Irta).
The proposed creation of the IRTA has not reportedly been given much attention at the Lower House of Congress, after President Arroyo announced that she was not keen on creating attached or special agencies now due to government spending deficits.
Prior to Chungalao's announcement, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos also told reporters recently that she and Chungalao have been "pushing for the rehabilitation of the terraces, not only for tourism purposes, but more importantly as a means to boost the struggling agricultural industry in the region."
Marcos, during the prior press briefing, recalled the sad experience she and Chungalao had when they approached the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to source out financial help for the rice terraces.
She said they were given the run-around when they first approached the DOT, which immediately referred them to the DA.
According to her, the DOT explained to them that the department was responsible solely for funding the building of access roads, as well as ensuring that existing accommodations like hotels, are suitable for tourists.
Marcos related that when they went back to the DA, they were told that the "DOT is the lead agency responsible for restoring the terraces."
On Wednesday, Baguilat warned that if nothing is done to curb the fast deterioration of the Ifugao Rice Terraces until 2005, it might be delisted from the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
Towards this end, Baguilat enjoined the Ifugaos and other concerned regional line agencies to help preserve the terraces. He, however, said that present damages to the terraces are irreversible.
Amid the fast deterioration of the terraces, Baguilat said, there is no specific national or regional line agency mandated to oversee the preservation and protection of the terraces.
With no definite agency to direct rehabilitation of the rice terraces, the Ifugaos are now into a cultural revival as a strategy to preserve and protect the terraces built by their ancestors centuries ago.
(April 6, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
