Philippines seeks to Mount Hamiguitan in World Heritage List

The Philippines is now preparing the requirements needed for Mount Hamiguitan in southern province of Davao Oriental to be included in the World Heritage List, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday. According to the department, the Mount Hamiguitan Mountain Range Wildlife Sanctuary is expected to be considered for inscription as a World Heritage natural site next year. "With its high number of unique, endemic and globally threatened species of flora and fauna, the Philippines nominated the mountain range for inscription in the World Heritage List," it said. Citing several studies, the DFA said that the mountain range is home to a total of 1,380 species of flora and fauna with 341 species endemic to the Philippines, including that of the critically endangered Philippine eagle and the Philippine cockatoo as well as the Shorea polysperma, S. astylosa and the orchid Paphiopedilum adductum. In order to be fully included in the list, the Philippines has to formally submit information related to land claims and the expanded boundaries of the property, the agency said. The DFA said that it is expected that once the Philippines submits all the requested additional information before February 2014, consideration for inscription will be undertaken in June 2014. If it is inscribed, Mount Hamiguitan will join the five other World Heritage sites in the Philippines -- Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Puerto Princesa Suterranean River National Park, Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras, Historic Town of Vigan and Baroque Churches of the Philippines. The Philippines is one of the 190 State Parties to the 1972 World Heritage Convention. The country is currently an observer in the World Heritage Committee which is tasked with the implementation of the Convention.