Restoration of Ifugao rice terraces pushed

BAGUIO CITY – A multi-sectoral group working extensively for the restoration of damaged portions of the world-famous Ifugao rice terraces is doing all it can to raise funds and draw support for the project which would protect a world heritage site, according to Raymundo Bahata, chairman of the group’s working committee.

For many years in the past, the terraces which artistically rise from the foot of the mountains to their apex and irrigated by an indigenous way of storing water at mountain slopes were of the world’s wonders until almost five years ago when the damages brought by time and climactic change set in.
Bahatan said that the most apparent damages in the last two years due to a series of strong typhoons which lashed the province area are located in the town of Battad.
Since last year, the natives in the area have been trying to put back the eroded portions back to their old form but the task remains gigantic that Bahatan and his group have to appeal for outside assistance.
The rice terraces in the province remain a breath-taking view especially in the months of November and December when the indigenous rice varieties are ready for harvest. During rainy days, the terraces are so verdant and during the Yuletide Season, the golden grains sway like waves from the bottom of the mountain to the top.
Natives of Ifugao believe that the damages brought by time and climate change could be repaired in due time so that once more, the terraces could again rank as one of the world’s wonders.
The Philippines has another world-famous wonder of nature – the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park or the Underground River located in Palawan Province. It was voted recently as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.