The World Heritage Sites in the Philippines

WHO IS IN-CHARGE IN CHOOSING?

- The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
approves and declares the proposed sites based on their criteria and its weight of
relevance.
- Locally, Philippines has a cultural inventory called the Philippine Registry of Cultural
Property or PRECUP and a natural inventory called the National Integrated Protected
Areas System or NIPAS.
HOW IS IT BEING SELECTED?
To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be:
• an already-classified landmark
• unique in some respect as a geographically
• historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance (such as an
ancient ruin or historical structure, building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake,
monument, mountain, or wilderness area)
• It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity, and serve as evidence of our
intellectual history on the planet.

6 WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN THE PHILIPPINES

A. NATURAL SITES
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park 1999
 The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park was designated as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1999 for its natural importance. It is commonly referred to by
tourists as the Underground River. The national park is located within a cave that you
must travel by boat.The cave dome measures at about 300 meters in length wherein it
is filled with river channels, rock formations, and a deep water hole. Aside from
being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was also named as one of the
New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011.
Tubbataha Reef Natural Park 1993
 The Tubbataha Reef Natural Park is located at the heart of the Sulu Sea, which is
located near Palawan. It was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in
1993. This natural park is a protected part of the Philippines– all 97,030 hectares of it.
These islands belonging to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park are uninhabited. It also
serves as a nesting site for marine turtles and various species of birds. Meanwhile, it
 is best known for its pristine coral reef system. Like the Palawan Underground River,
it was also recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature (in the year 2008).
Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary 2014
 Located in the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor, the Mount Hamiguitan
Range Wildlife Sanctuary was enlisted into the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in
2014 (the latest among the sites on this list) for its natural importance. It is home to a
diverse range of flora and fauna species. There are also several endangered and
endemic species found within the sanctuary.

B. CULTURAL SITES
Four Baroque churches of the Philippines 1993
 This is a collection of the four baroque churches in the Philippines that were built
during the Spanish era. All of them were inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage
Site list on 1993. These churches are all considered as national treasures for their
historical and cultural importance.
(a) San Agustin Church - Intramuros, Manila
(b) Santa maria church - Santa maria, ilocos sur
( c) Paoay church - Paoay, ilocos norte
(d) Miagao church - Miag-ao, ilo-ilo
Historic City of Vigan 1999
 The town of Vigan in Ilocos Sur is one of the best preserved colonial towns in Asia. The
architecture and planning in the town is preserved from the time of the Spanish
colonization in the country during the 16th century. The town of Vigan in Ilocos Sur is
one of the best preserved colonial towns in Asia. The architecture and planning in the
town is preserved from the time of the Spanish colonization in the country during the
16th century. Aside from the architecture, the cobblestone streets of Vigan is another
example of a colonial influence that remains intact until today. It was designated as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordillera 1995
 The Banaue Rice Terraces, another name for the Rice Terraces of the Philippine
Cordilleras, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 for its cultural
importance. There are five sites included in this inscription, all of which are part of the
Cordillera region in the Philippines. The rice terraces is a showcase of the complex
method of farming employed by the native Ifugao who lived in the area.

Tentative list of World Heritage sites In the Philippines

 Batanes Protected Landscapes And Seascapes (1993)
 Apo Reef Natural Park (2006)
 The Tabon Cave Complex And All Of Lipuun (2006)
 Paleolithic Archeological Sites In Cagayan Valley (2006)
 Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves (2006)
 Butuan Archeological Sites (2006)
 Baroque Churches Of The Philippines (Extension) (2006)
 Petroglyphs And Petrographs Of The Philippines (2006)
 Neolithic Shell Middle Sites In Lal-Lo And Gattaran Municipalities (2006)
 Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (2006)
 Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (2006)
 Mt. Pulag National Park (2006)
 Coron Island Natural Biotic Area (2006)
 El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area (2006)
 Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park (2006)
 Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and Outlaying Areas Inclusive For Buffer Zone
(2006)
 Mt. Mantalingan Protected Landscape (2015)
 Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MMVNP) (2015)
 Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (2015)