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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Marcos calls for 'all-out gov't effort' to rehabilitate Banaue Rice Terraces

Marcos calls for 'all-out gov't effort' to rehabilitate Banaue Rice Terraces

Published Dec 16, 2019 12:00 am
By Mario Casayuran Senator Imee R. Marcos urged Friday an all-out government effort to rehabilitate the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces that is now in a state of disrepair. Senator Imee Marcos (Senator Imee Marcos Official Facebook Page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Senator Imee Marcos (Senator Imee Marcos Official Facebook Page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Marcos, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, said continued neglect of the Rice Terraces would lead to its deletion from the map of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites. She also cited a report of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) that the Rice Terraces has now reached a “very critical stage of deterioration.’’ The Philippines regards the Banaue Rice Terraces as a national heritage. Marcos asked the Ifugao local government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to coordinate with one another in rehabilitating the Banaue Rice Terraces. ‘’Pangalan ng bansa ang nakataya rito," Marcos said, (The country’s name is at stake here.) "Aksyunan ninyo agad! Kailan pa tayo kikilos, kung tuluyan na itong nawasak? May panahon pa tayo, gawan natin ng paraan! Ipaalam natin sa publiko kung anu-ano ang gagawin nating habang, " she added. (Act on it fast. Shall we only act when it is about to be destroyed?. There’s still time. Do something. Inform the public what you intend to do.) She cited findings of FAO that some of the reasons for the sorry state of the Banaue Rice Terraces were environmental degradation, unregulated development, neglect and urbanization. FAO data show that out of the original 1,670 hectares of land devoted to agriculture, 600 hectares have already been abandoned which now demand rapid rehabilitation. Marcos suggested that these government agencies map out a comprehensive plan and request technical help to solve the problem. ‘’Magsabi kayo kung kailangan niyo ng tulong, may pondo ang gobyerno. Wag band-aid solution! Yung pang-matagalang solusyon dapat,’’ she added. (Tell if you need help. Government has the money. No band aid solution. The solutions must last long.) "Kultura at kasaysayan natin ang posibleng mawala pag tuluyang pinabayaan at masira ang Banaue Rice Terraces. Pinagmamalaki nga natin yan! Tinuturo pa sa mga aklat ng mga estudyante. Eto nga, wag naman sana umabot na sa huli tayo magsisi," Marcos stressed. (Philippine culture and heritage would be lost if we allow the Banaue Rice Terraces to be destroyed. We have taken pride of our Rice Terraces. It was part of our educational curriculum. I hope it will not reach a situation that we will regret it.) Read more: FAO: Rice Terraces in a ‘very critical stage of deterioration’
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